Skillsnet Agora conference: Skills for Europe's future

The lack of data about what skills will be needed in the future has been a long-standing concern in Europe. Anticipating occupational skill needs is a priority in the Maastricht and Helsinki Communiqués (2004, 2006), in the European Council's integrated guidelines for employment for 2005-2008 (Guidelines Nos 19, 20 and 24), in the Regulation (EC) on the European Social Fund, and in the Social partners' framework of actions for the lifelong learning development of competencies and qualifications (2002). The need to improve mobility in the European labour market, to increase the skill level of the population and to prevent skill mismatches makes information about the future development of skills and competences even more important.

Cedefop's work on anticipation of skill needs

Having launched the early identification of skill needs project in 2001/02, in 2004 Cedefop established Skillsnet, an international network (www.trainingvillage.gr/skillsnet), which aims to identify and highlight related European activities and to provide a platform for dialogue. Skillsnet involves policy-makers, social partners, practitioners and researchers in discussing and elaborating research methods, outcomes and plans. This is to ensure the validity and legitimacy of its work, and, crucially, the use of its findings in policy and practice through the implementation of appropriate measures or reforms.

Medium-term forecast of occupational skill needs in Europe

In 2007, Cedefop carried out a medium-term forecast of occupational skill needs in Europe. This pan-European forecast develops, for the first time, macroeconomic projections and alternative scenarios for each Member State and aggregate results at EU-25 level. It provides detailed data on future employment developments by economic sectors, occupations and skills. It covers the period until 2015 and uses comparative data for all Member States. The final results will be announced at the conference.

Objectives

The aim of the conference is:

• to announce the results of medium-term forecast of occupational skill needs in Europe carried out by Cedefop,
• to disseminate other information on future skill needs collected and shared among experts and researchers in Cedefop's network Skillsnet, and
• to discuss the findings and future network plans with policy-makers, social partners, practitioners and all other relevant stakeholders.

Skillsnet - the early identification of skill needs network