Debate: Start of the European Year of skills
Date: TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2023
Speaker: Jessika Roswall
Language: EN

Our economy is changing at a breath-taking pace. For example, artificial intelligence will reshape the labour market as we know it. Just like when we made other technical leaps in the past, the nature of jobs will change fundamentally. At the same time, our economy and society will undergo another significant transition: the green transition. This means that we will change our modus and production profoundly to be more sustainable and based on fossil-free, rather than fossil energy, sources. In this context, the European Year of Skills shines a much-deserved light on the needs of upskilling and reskilling workers. Because we are seeing a rapid change in the needs of the labour market with the green and digital transitions and we need to adapt to it. Therefore, we need to join forces and intensify our efforts to reskill and upskill workers for the green transition and to boost the competitiveness of the European companies. Let me give you one example: right now, northern Sweden’s economy is booming, thanks to industrial initiatives that contribute to the green and digital transition. There is mining for critical raw materials, data centres and production of fossil-free steel. Accordingly, companies in the region will need to hire more than 100 000 persons in the coming years. Although the main demand is for employers with technical skills, a growing population will also mean a higher demand for doctors, nurses and teachers. Other regions across the continent face similar situations, which presents both opportunities and challenges. But to put it simply, Europe’s success in a fast-changing global economy requires that our citizens have the right skills. That is why the Council welcomes and supports the European Year of Skills initiative. There is a consensus among Member States that the European Year of Skills is an opportunity to encourage and foster the broadest possible participation in upskilling and reskilling. It is important that activities developed under the European Year of Skills pay particular attention to groups that are either underrepresented in the labour market or that encounter particular challenges to enter into it in the first place. Among those underrepresented groups, I would like to mention women and young people, especially those not in employment, education or training. I am very pleased that the Member States have started to plan activities under the Year of Skills and some already have measures in place. This is an excellent opportunity to share best practices among Member States and to improve how to communicate to citizens how vital reskilling and upskilling is for our future. To emphasise this, the Swedish Presidency has put forward conclusions on skills and competences for the green transition, which has been approved by the Council. In this context, Member States are invited to take actions to address labour shortages in key sectors for the green transition and the growing demand for technical skills in this area at the same time. Because the green transition can only be a success if the EU has the skilled workforce for it, there is no way we can achieve a paradigm shift towards a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy without an upskilled and reskilled European workforce. Last week, matching skills with the demands of the labour market was also addressed in the informal ministerial meeting of employment ministers in Stockholm, which the Commissioner Schmit also attended. These discussions were very fruitful and show that skills are, and will be, high on the political agenda. Last but not least, I would like to stress that promoting a mindset of upskilling and reskilling is a long-term objective. It is also a task for a wide range of actors: government authorities at all levels, social partners, individual companies, academia and civil society organisations. It is also an individual responsibility of each and every citizen. Improving the skills of the workforce will require teamwork. On this note, I would like to thank you so much for your attention. I am looking forward to the debate.