Jobs for the e-generation

Employment Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou will be conducting her first Internet chat on the subject of jobs in the knowledge economy on 18 April between 1800 and 2000 hours (Central European Time). The question and answer session follows the launch in February of the Commis...

Employment Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou will be conducting her first Internet chat on the subject of jobs in the knowledge economy on 18 April between 1800 and 2000 hours (Central European Time).

The question and answer session follows the launch in February of the Commission's strategy to promote employment and skills suitable for the Information Society (see RCN 14283).

People from around the world will be given the opportunity to question the Greek Commissioner on topics such as what the knowledge economy will mean for Europe, what skills will be required, or what Europe can do to increase rates of Internet access and use.

A Commission statement reads: 'Promoting job opportunities in the knowledge economy is a fundamental part of the EU's employment process and critical to Europe's future development.'

By 2010 over half of Europe's jobs will be in industries depending heavily on information and communication technology, and European citizens must develop the necessary IT skills. Commission figures suggest the shortage of IT specialists in Europe could reach 1.6 million equivalent jobs by 2002.

The Commission's strategy hopes to address this shortfall, and ensure the 81 million Europeans currently in education take advantage of the possibilities afforded by the knowledge economy.

Through her Internet chat, Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou will invite people to find out what hopes the strategy holds, in particular for those who find it hardest to enter the Information Society.

Questions can be sent in advance, in any of the 11 official languages of the EU, to [e-mail]. The maximum length of questions is 256 characters.