Skilling leaders project comes to an end

This month, Eurocadres concluded a two-year project focused on the re/up-skilling of professionals and managers. This project, financed by the European Commission, examined the barriers to re/ up- skilling, strategies to overcome these barriers and the role trade unions and social partners in guaranteeing training for workers.

The need for lifelong learning and continual re/up-skilling is evident across all sectors in Europe. A 2018 OECD research paper suggests that 32% of current jobs are likely to see significant changes in how they are carried out. European research from 2013, found that 39% firms in the EU had difficulties finding staff with the right skills. The Commission’s “Pact for Skills” is looking to address gaps where they exist, but with the ever-changing world of work as a consequence of our green and digital transitions, training must become integrated within our working day. For this to be achieved, dialogue with European and national institutions, social partners, employers and trade unions will be paramount. This dialogue was central to our efforts over the past two years.

Beginning in 2020, the project faced a number of challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet still managing to successfully deliver two interactive online sessions in September and January 2021, along with an in-person seminar in Brussels on March 29, 2022. With participants joining from right throughout Europe, these sessions focused on providing background information on the outlets available for re/up-skilling, the national programmes open to workers, best practices at a sectoral and company level and European initiatives such as individual learning accounts (ILA).

Throughout participants reflected on the ability of trade unions and workers’ representatives to positively influence the number and quality of training outlets available to Europe’s professionals and managers. With the use of online tools, participants developed outlines of potential trade union strategies to increase the availability of workplace trainings, and uptake from workers. Our in-person seminar focused on the European initiatives targeting skills, along with company best practices in France and Belgium.

– “A Just Transition will only be possible if workers are given the necessary tools to adapt to our changing world of work. As this project has shown, re/up-skilling will be crucial for us to reach our green and digital targets over the coming years”

With expert input over the course of the project from the European institutions, employer representatives, civil society organisations and training experts, our final conference reflected on the skills required for a Just transition, how work organisation can facilitate up/re-skilling and the European pact for skills.

“With over 100 participants throughout these four events and two years, we have seen that skilling workers is most definitely at the top of the agenda for trade unions right across the EU” outlined Eurocadres President Nayla Glaise.

“The way we work has changed significantly in the past few years, even from the conceptualisation of this project, but work organisation must continue to evolve to reach our full potential. Workers must receive necessary training as a part of their working day to deliver sustainability and growth simultaneously.

A Just Transition will only be possible if workers are given the necessary tools to adapt to our changing world of work. As this project has shown, re/up-skilling will be crucial for us to reach our green and digital targets over the coming years.

Professionals and managers remain eager to build on their existing skillset, but must be given the opportunity to do so”.

Following the conclusion of this project, Eurocadres will publish a detailed report on the activities and findings of our work.