During the first reporting period (01/01/2024 – 31/03/2025), the TRAILS project made strong progress across key technical and scientific areas.
1. Three major survey instruments were designed: the General Population Survey, a Stated-Preference Survey, and a Platform Worker Survey. These aim to gather representative data on skills, training, and employment across the EU and nearby countries. Simultaneously, access to matched employer–employee datasets was secured in Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Portugal, Denmark, and Germany. Using Swedish data, a machine-learning indicator—Job Assignment Quality (JAQ)—was developed to assess the quality of job-worker matches at individual and firm levels.
2. Analysis of the European Skills and Jobs Survey (ESJS) assessed shifts in educational mismatch pre- and post-COVID-19. Vacancy data from 2019–2023 (Lightcast) was also examined to identify evolving skill demands, underscoring the growing importance of workforce adaptability.
3. A large-scale field experiment was launched in Tuscany, Catalonia, Borås, and Baden-Württemberg to test behavioural interventions encouraging unemployed individuals to pursue training. This included the use of behavioural "nudges" and AI-driven skill profiling, in cooperation with regional employment services and training providers.
4. The design and initial implementation of the TRAILS portal were completed. An early version was released, featuring interactive dashboards and data visualisations. Built for scalability and interoperability, the platform will integrate future analytical outputs and serve as a central hub for skills intelligence.
5. Using ESJS data (2014, 2021), the project explored how technology influences skill needs. Results showed targeted training can mitigate under-skilling and improve outcomes like wages and job satisfaction, reinforcing the importance of tailored learning paths.
6. Initial work began on a classification of basic and transferrable skills relevant to green and digital transitions. Using ESCO, early mappings of occupational skill profiles were developed. This also informed the analysis of how diversified skill sets contribute to mobility and resilience across labour markets.
