SKILLS FOR LABOUR MARKETS IN THE GREEN AND DIGITAL TRANSITION

Project Information

SkiLMeeT

Grant agreement ID: 101132581

DOI

10.3030/101132581

EC signature date 26 October 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2026

Funded under

• Culture, creativity and inclusive society

Total cost

€ 2 994 866,25

EU contribution

€ 2 994 866,25

Coordinated by

NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SkiLMeeT (SKILLS FOR LABOUR MARKETS IN THE GREEN AND DIGITAL TRANSITION)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The SkiLMeeT project aims to address the evolving needs of the European labour markets in the digital and green transition by identifying skills shortages and mismatches, their drivers, and propose innovative solutions to address these challenges.

The SkiLMeeT project has three main objectives:
1. To produce indicators that better understand skills mismatches and shortages.
2. To provide insights on the effects of drivers leading to altered skills requirements.
3. To suggest pathways for reducing skills shortages and mismatches 1.

This initiative is driven by the recognition that the rapid technological advancements and shifting economic landscapes necessitate a workforce equipped with diverse and adaptable skills. By leveraging data from surveys such as PIAAC and online platforms like LinkedIn, the project seeks to map the demanded skills, to encourage successfully the necessary reskilling and upskilling of the workforce and ultimately to realise the full potential of the digital and green transitions for Europe as a whole..

To quantify the supply of skills within the current workforce, we employ a dual approach utilizing both survey data and online platform analytics. This analysis allows us to track the evolution of these skills over time, providing a comprehensive understanding of the skills landscape. This gap poses significant challenges to economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion.

The results of SkiLMeeT are expected to contribute significantly to tackling the identified problems by offering a comprehensive understanding of the skills landscape. This understanding will enable targeted interventions to address skills shortages and mismatches, ultimately fostering a more resilient and competitive workforce. The project's findings will be particularly valuable in the context of European political and strategic priorities, such as the Digital Agenda and the European Skills Agenda.

The impact of SkiLMeeT is anticipated to be substantial, given the project's focus on critical areas such as digital skills, lifelong learning, and workforce adaptability. By providing a detailed analysis of skills supply and demand, the project will support the development of policies and programs that enhance workforce readiness and economic competitiveness. The integration of social sciences and humanities will play a crucial role in understanding the broader societal implications of skills development and ensuring that interventions are inclusive and equitable.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In this reporting period the progress across various work packages (WPs) focused on different aspects of the project have been achieved:
Work package 1 ''Conceptual Framework and Joint Infrastructure'' has met its objectives by establishing a coherent conceptual framework and research protocols. Deliverables include reports on literature overviews and technical reports on key concepts.
Work package 2 ''Data on Labour and Skills Shortages'' focused on creating datasets to measure labour and skills supply and demand. Tasks include preparing online job vacancy data and analyzing big data from various platforms. Key outputs include confidential datasets that will be used in future analyses of the project.
Work package 3 ''Indicators on Labour and Skills Shortages'' aims to develop cross-country indicators for skills shortages and mismatches. The focus is on collecting individual-level data and analyzing skill levels across occupations.
Work package 4 ''Drivers of Skills Shortages'' investigates how digitalization and globalization shift skill needs. It aims to analyze the impact of new technologies on skills supply and demand.
Work package 5 ''Pathways to Reduce Skills Shortages'' explores determinants of job transitions and the effects of automation on educational choices. It aims to identify solutions to mitigate skills shortages.
Efforts have been made to engage stakeholders and disseminate research findings through webinars and roundtable discussions. The project has established communication strategies to reach diverse audiences in the WP6 ''Engagement, Dissemination, and Communication''.
Finally, the management structure of the project has been established successfully to ensure effective coordination and quality assurance in Work package 7 ''Project Management''. Regular meetings and risk management procedures are in place to monitor progress.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The SkiLMeeT project aims to deliver significant scientific impact by providing insights into skills mismatches related to the digital and green transitions. The consortium has successfully gathered unique data on skills and established relationships with leading researchers. The project plans to continue disseminating findings and engaging with stakeholders to address the pressing challenges in the labour market. SkiLMeeT is poised to contribute valuable knowledge and solutions to the evolving landscape of skills demand in Europe as it adapts to the digital and green transitions.
Furthermore, SkiLMeeT has made significant strides in advancing the understanding of skills mismatches and shortages in the context of the digital and green transitions. Here are some key results that go beyond the current state of the art:
Innovative Indicators and Methodologies
SkiLMeeT has developed novel indicators to better understand skills mismatches and shortages across various sectors and regions. These indicators are based on comprehensive datasets that extract digital, AI, and green skills from online job vacancies and patent texts. This approach provides a more detailed and accurate picture of the skills landscape in Europe.

Insights on Drivers of Skills Changes
SkiLMeeT has provided new insights into the effects of technological advancements, globalization, and demographic changes on skills requirements. By analyzing big data from online platforms and patents, the project has identified key drivers that alter skills demand and supply, offering a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to skills mismatches.

Pathways to Reduce Skills Shortages
The project has proposed innovative solutions to address skills shortages through education and training strategies. This includes identifying beneficial worker transitions and encouraging upskilling and reskilling initiatives. These pathways are designed to help workers adapt to the changing demands of the labor market, particularly in the context of the green and digital transitions.

Comprehensive Data Collection and Analysis
SkiLMeeT has succeeded in collecting a wealth of unique data on digital, AI, and green skills across Europe. This includes structured data from surveys and statistics, as well as big data from patents, online job vacancies, and worker profiles. These datasets lay the foundation for all subsequent analyses on skills gaps, shortages, and mismatches.

Engagement and Dissemination
The project has established strong relationships with leading researchers and stakeholders, facilitating the dissemination of research findings and the engagement of key audiences. This includes organizing webinars, roundtable discussions, and conferences to share insights and gather feedback from policymakers, employers, and employees.

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