ICT can also facilitate the social dialogue. ICT can assist the correct implementation of Community health and safety legislation and the collection and policy evaluation of data in this field. There are, however, certain potential problems with ICT, such as increased stress and poor ergonomics leading to musculo-skeletal disorders. The various facets of the information society are closely interlinked with the employment strategy drawn up in Essen. ICT are driving forces for productivity gains and thereby for the creation of new jobs.
Demand is increasingly for more and broader skills, to the detriment of unskilled workers.
A fundamental structural problem in Europe is the slow adjustment of skills to new economic structures. This is why the European employment strategy is putting more and more emphasis on employability. The key issue in exploiting the potential of new employment is not just the creation of globally competitive ICT industries but also how the new technologies might help develop enterprises in all other branches, not least SMEs. To prevent a skills shortfall, it is vital to develop the capacity for anticipation in enterprises, which promotes an understanding of overall change, new skill structures and new opportunities for employment. Radical changes are required in education and training to enable people to keep pace with the changes wrought by rapid technological development.