Labour and skills shortages in transport, energy, infrastructure and the digital sector

Key points 

The EESC:

• highlights the increasing challenge of labour and skills shortages in the transport, energy, infrastructure, and digital technology sectors. These sectors are crucial for the prosperity and ecological sustainability of the EU and are central to the European Green Deal as well as to the future competitiveness of the EU;
• believes that more ambitious measures are needed to ensure a just transition which includes the promotion of quality jobs, labour market’s balance and the improvement of working conditions.
• recognises the important role of the social partners in developing and implementing measures to address Labour and skills shortages;
• suggests developing and financing targeted programmes learner-centric guidance and coordinated learner support measures to facilitate the entry of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups into the labour market. These include women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) professions, people with a migration background, people with a disability, and older workers
• encourages the Member States to implement training funds managed in a tripartite way respecting the features of different national systems, in order to reduce disincentives and support businesses in providing on-the-job training, such as apprenticeships.