How apprenticeships and dual learning schemes can bolster the skills that businesses need in order to face the challenges of the green and digital transitions

Key points

The EESC:

• points at the importance of apprenticeship-based training to equip people with the digital and environmental skills that will be needed in the European labour market;

• notes that in many EU countries, apprenticeships and certification schemes operate in silos; supports the objective of a thorough reform, for example to adapt training to labour market needs, improve accessibility and foster transferable skills;

• proposes a new approach to apprenticeship systems that would involve the provision of a complementary training module in the field of new technologies or innovations in digital and green skills; considers basic skills a prerequisite for vocational training such as apprenticeships;

• underlines the role of social partners in designing and managing training systems and in measuring the skills needs of the labour market;

• supports the development of the apprenticeship training system used in some EU countries for adults over the age of 30; endorses apprenticeships as a way to integrate people with disabilities;

• recommends encouraging Member States to use of a comprehensive approach involving the social partners, training organisations, the scientific community and the institutions concerned, in order to implement effective policies on the development of digital skills;

• strongly supports the Erasmus+ programme, as it enables people to carry out traineeships in European companies, undertake training courses in Europe in a vocational training organisation, or to take part in educational exchanges;

• notes the need for support and guidance services to inform young people about the new skills and the opportunities in the labour market; considers that the information and guidance provided should give equal importance to the different forms of vocational training, particularly as apprenticeships offer very high rates of direct integration into the labour market.