Competitiveness is a multifaceted concept and in today’s highly competitive global economy, skills are an essential component in how a country or region can become – and remain – competitive. This contribution focuses on bolstering strategies that aim to close the EU’s skills gap, with an emphasis on utilising skills intelligence, targeting adults, SMEs and managers, and strengthening policy instruments that aim to tackle consistent underinvestment in training.
The contribution recognises that the demand for skills is not only driven by firms’ competitive strategies but also by policies and regional contexts. Well-designed policies can help regions build on their unique strengths while responding to the evolving needs of the labour market. This approach can not only enhance competitiveness but also ensure a more equitable distribution of the benefits of innovation, while preparing the EU workforce to meet the future challenges that they will inevitably have to face.
About the authors:
Dr. Laura Nurski is an Associate Research Fellow and Head of Programme on Future of Work at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).
Dr. Cinzia Alcidi is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels, where she is also head of the Economic Policy Unit and the Jobs and Skills Unit.