Rapid change is reshaping our societies, workplaces, and daily lives. How can Europe maintain its social model while staying competitive on the global stage? What policies are needed to support workers and businesses through change, and to prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world of work?
The European Employment and Social Rights Forum is back, to address head-on these questions and more.
Social Europe: Empowering people in times of change
Register now for the European Employment and Social Rights Forum
3-4 March 2026, Brussels & online
Opinion leaders, policymakers, businesses, academics and civil society will come together to explore bold ideas to support Europe’s greatest strength: its people. They will also look at how to promote quality jobs, fair opportunities and effective social protection in the face of technological advancements, economic pressures and an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.
A digital Europe for a social Europe
Digitalisation is one of the most powerful drivers of change in Europe’s economy and labour markets. It is reshaping business models, transforming occupations and redefining skills needs across all sectors. Harnessed well, it can boost productivity, inclusion, foster innovation and create new quality jobs. Left unmanaged, it risks widening skills gaps, exacerbating inequalities and deepening labour market segmentation.
Evidence from Cedefop shows that the demand for advanced digital skills continues to grow steadily, while many workers still lack at least basic digital competences. At the same time, digitalisation is not limited to ICT specialists: most occupations now require some level of digital literacy, from the use of data and digital tools to collaboration in virtual environments.
Cedefop’s Skills Forecast and skills intelligence analyses highlight three key trends:
- Rising demand for higher-level digital and transversal skills, including problem-solving, adaptability and the ability to work alongside automated systems.
- Increasing digital task intensity across occupations, including in traditionally non-digital sectors such as manufacturing, construction and care.
- Persistent digital skills gaps and mismatches, particularly affecting low-qualified adults, older workers and those in small and medium-sized enterprises.
Artificial intelligence is accelerating these dynamics. Recent Cedefop research on AI in the workplace shows that AI is less about replacing entire occupations and more about transforming tasks. Workers are increasingly required to interact with AI-enabled systems, interpret data outputs and exercise judgement in hybrid human-machine environments. This makes continuous upskilling and reskilling essential, as well as strong initial vocational education and training (VET) systems that embed digital and AI-related competences.
Moreover, Cedefop’s analysis underlines that digital transformation must go hand in hand with inclusive policies. Ensuring that women, older workers, migrants and people with lower qualifications have access to digital learning opportunities is crucial for social cohesion and competitiveness. Strengthening career guidance, validation of non-formal and informal learning, and work-based learning in digital fields are key levers for making the digital transition fair.
To further explore future digital skills needs and the challenges and opportunities they bring for industry, workers and policymakers, join Cedefop Executive Director Jürgen Siebel at the Social Forum session “Pact for Skills: Future skills needs and developments” on 4 March 2026 as part of the European Employment and Social Rights Forum.
As Europe advances towards its Union of Skills vision, closing the digital skills gap will require education and training systems that are agile, labour markets that are more inclusive and responsive to change, and social partners that actively shape the digital transformation of work.