Recent advancements in autonomous digital technologies, particularly rapid developments in generative artificial intelligence (AI), can greatly affect skill demands in workplaces and exacerbate skill mismatches. While these technologies can automate human tasks, leading to job displacement and potential job losses, they also offer opportunities to enhance skilled work and improve overall job quality.
In parallel, policy debates are increasingly advocating for a ‘human-centred’ technological shift to ensure that the adoption of new digital technologies, in particular AI, boosts labour productivity, strengthens the EU's long-term competitiveness strategy, and safeguards job quality.
Towards a human-centred digital transition
The EU has long aimed to create a coherent policy framework on AI, particularly regarding the implications of new digital technologies for workers and the labour market. The EU’s focus on human-centred AI, as established in the European Strategy on AI, and the European Commission’s coordinated plan on AI, and embedded in the AI act, aims to ensure that European economies benefit from AI, safeguarding the interests of affected workers.
Harnessing the benefits of the twin - digital and green - transitions requires Europe to strengthen its digital infrastructure and raise digital skill levels across its population. This begins with education and training, making it crucial to align policy goals with the demands of the digital era to build a resilient and future-ready Europe.
Cedefop’s second European skills and jobs survey (ESJS2)
To inform EU policy and advance the digital transition, Cedefop’s 2021 European Skills and Jobs Survey (ESJS2) collected comprehensive data from about 46 000 adult workers in 29 European countries. The survey examined the impact of digital technologies on job skills and the continuing vocational training of EU workers.
For the first time, leading European researchers analysed Cedefop’s ESJS2 microdata, and their findings were presented at the December 2024 conference “Human-Centred Digital Transitions: Skill Mismatches in European Workplaces.” The conference explored optimal human-machine interactions and examined how such human-centred collaborations vary across different workplace environments within the EU.
Some key findings presented at the event include:
- AI titles in online job postings have grown rapidly in recent years, particularly for writing-related positions, shifting from optimising existing systems to developing innovative AI-driven products and services.
- Technological change tends to complement the demand for skills. Workers who have to learn new digital technologies enjoy higher job satisfaction when the digital transition is well-managed. Digital technology leads to higher job satisfaction and lower fear of automation for workers who have a good relationship with their supervisors and when workplace practices effectively use their skills.
- Younger workers and male workers are more likely to work in positions requiring more complex use of digital technology, as opposed to older workers and female employees. In addition, females and rural workers are less likely to engage in digital skills training.
- The adoption of digital technology in workplaces tends to be associated with enhanced training participation and job satisfaction, especially when workers have greater autonomy at their jobs.
- Around 13% of EU workers experience a significant digital skills mismatch, highlighting the need for upskilling and reskilling to adapt to new digital technologies. Participation in digital skills training is strongly influenced by job-skill requirements and individual attitudes towards technology, such as fear of automation.
- Overeducation in Europe has declined over time, despite educational expansion. The rise in remote working is a factor that may have contributed to higher-educated workers finding better matched jobs.
- The learning capacity of organisations plays a crucial role in addressing the skill mismatch challenges of the digital transformation; organisational and process innovations tend to have a positive impact, helping to reduce skill underutilisation and overqualification in workplaces.
Cedefop will continue to support the EU’s efforts in driving a human-centred digital transformation. This year, the Agency will launch the third wave of the European Skills and Jobs Survey, providing fresh insights into the impact of technological changes on European workplaces.
