Before this decade is over, labour force shortages will have become palpable in many sectors of European economies. Strategies to ensure long-term labour market resilience must be put in place now.
Find recommendations based on the newest population research in this Policy Brief: “Beyond Education and Training – How Can We Adapt to Future Needs of Local Labour Markets?”. The brief is part of the project Mapping Inequalities Through the Life Course, funded by the European Union.
Key Messages
- Investments in skills alone are insufficient for reintegrating low-qualified individuals into education or the labour market.
- Substantial policy reforms to improve salaries, job security, and working arrangements are necessary to overcome labour force shortages.
- Adult education and training opportunities need to become more flexible to boost participation and inclusiveness.
- Staff training in organisations should be seen as an investment and not a cost for accounting purposes.
References
- Heisig, J. P., Gesthuizen, M. & Solga, H. (2019). Lack of skills or formal qualifications? New evidence on cross-country differences in the labor market disadvantage of less-educated adults. Social Science Research, 83: 102314, https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/202328/1/f-22220-full-text-Heisig-et_al-Lack-v2.pdf
- Heiskala, L., Erola, J. & Kilpi-Jakonen, E. (2021). Compensatory and multiplicative advantages: Social origin, school performance, and stratified higher education enrolment in Finland. European Sociological Review, 37 (2): 171 – 185, https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcaa046
- Hornberg, C., Heisig, J. P. & Solga, H. (2023). Explaining the training disadvantage of less-educated workers: The role of labor market allocation in international comparison. Socio-Economic Review, https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwad023
- Mills, M. C. (2022). The future of employment in a post-COVID Europe: Building resilience through a fair social, digital and green economy, in: High-Level Group on Post-COVID Economic and Social Challenges, A New Era for Europe: How the European Union Can Make the Most of its Pandemic Recovery, Pursue Sustainable Growth, and Promote Global Stability. Pp. 79 – 107, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Doi: 10.2765/11297
- Milos, J. & Bergfeld, M. (2022). RETAIN: Tackling labour turnover and labour shortages in long-term care. UNICARE Europa project VS-2019-0292 02.
OECD (2023). Flexible adult learning provision: What it is, why it matters, and how to make it work. OECD Publishing, Paris.
Acknowledgement
This publication is part of the Mapineq project, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the grant agreement No. 101061645 (www.mapineq.eu). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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