The Union of Skills: A Competitive Europe Starts in the Classroom

The EESC’s new opinion on the Union of Skills outlines a clear path: Europe’s global competitiveness depends on its ability to develop and retain a skilled, adaptable, and inclusive workforce. As Rapporteur representing the Employers’ Group, I want to highlight key priorities that matter most from a business perspective.

Skills and Education: Foundations for Competitiveness

The opinion emphasises that inclusive, high-quality education is not merely a social goal, it’s essential for Europe’s long-term industrial strength. Low basic skills, especially in early education, create bottlenecks across the learning pathway—from VET and higher education to adult training. The EESC welcomes the planned toolkit for basic skills in apprenticeships, which can support both providers and employers.

VET systems must be reformed to become more attractive and better aligned with labour market realities. Stronger employer involvement is vital to ensure that VET supports business needs and Europe’s reindustrialisation goals.

Unlocking Innovation Through STEM and Entrepreneurship

Europe must speed up its development of STEM and entrepreneurial talent to remain competitive globally. Businesses require advanced skills in AI, clean tech, life sciences, and digital infrastructure. The opinion highlights the urgent need to involve more women in STEM fields and to incorporate financial literacy and entrepreneurship into education.

AI literacy is also vital. Employers back initiatives to equip learners and workers with the skills to understand and utilise AI responsibly.

Upskilling That Works—For Employers and Workers

Only 39.5% of adults participate in learning each year. For many SMEs, lack of time and resources remains a barrier to training. The opinion advocates for targeted employer support—such as tax incentives, pooled SME training models, and public funding—to enhance business capacity and competitiveness.

On-the-job and informal learning need greater recognition. Employers advocate for the validation of various learning paths that develop practical skills, especially in SMEs and the social economy.

From Education to Employment: Supporting Young Talent

The opinion advocates for the full implementation of the Youth Guarantee and improved transitions from education to employment. Employers can support this by providing on-the-job training, mentorship, and short-term entry-level roles, which offer young people meaningful career opportunities and help reduce skills mismatches.

Labour Mobility and Global Talent

To address shortages in strategic sectors, the EU must lower barriers to labour mobility and recognition of qualifications. Simplified procedures and mutual learning among Member States are crucial. Employers also support visa facilitation and “train-to-hire” schemes to attract and retain skilled global talent, ensuring fairness while strengthening Europe’s talent pipeline.

Smarter Governance, Stronger Investment

Coherent governance is critical. The Employers’ Group supports stronger social partner involvement at all levels of skills policymaking. We must also confront underinvestment in education. EU programmes such as Erasmus+, ESF+, and Digital Europe should be strengthened to help Member States fund the skills needed to compete globally.

Conclusion

Competitiveness begins with people. Skills are not just a workforce issue—they are the core of Europe’s economic future. The Employers’ Group will continue to advocate for business-led, inclusive, and forward-looking skills policy. We look forward to engaging with the Commission’s upcoming recommendation and making the Union of Skills work for both workers and industry.

Mariya Mincheva, EESC Member and Rapporteur of Opinion SOC/837 Union of Skills.