By the EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group

The jobs of tomorrow will require the skills to bring about the green and digital transitions and address demographic shifts. When investing in training and reskilling, how can we ensure that these measures also reach the most vulnerable? What are the current skills divides and how are they linked to poverty?

On 10 July, the EESC’s Civil Society Organisations’ Group explored these questions as part of a thematic debate which also marked the launch of a new EESC study exploring How to eradicate skills poverty among the most vulnerable?. The study was commissioned by the EESC at the request of the Group in connection with the European Year of Skills (2023). It examines the novel concept of skills poverty, proposing a definition and investigating possible drivers and solutions, paving the way for further research on this topic in the future. One of its conclusions is that civil society organisations have a unique role to play in identifying and supporting vulnerable individuals who need upskilling. They should work closely with local communities and authorities, leveraging their networks and ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to education and skills development.

The debate included contributions from Juliana Wahlgren, Director of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), who discussed the underlying factors affecting access to skills, and Agnieszka Maj, researcher at the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE), which carried out the study.

For the full article on the thematic debate and an interview with the authors, see the event website.

The study and the executive summary are available here.