Is it the scrap heap for unskilled workers throughout Europe?

 

Business leaders have warned that Europe is facing a skills mismatch, with millions of jobs going unfilled because workers do not have the right skills to meet the needs of modern enterprises.

 

The 'New Skills for New Jobs' initiative was launched at EU level in December 2008 to build stronger bridges between the world of education and the world of work.

 

In spring 2009, the European Commission appointed a group of experts on training, skills and employment from around the EU to provide independent advice on the further development of the initiative in the context of the 'EU 2020' strategy.

 

One in three Europeans of working age has few or no formal qualifications, making them 40% less likely to be employed than those with medium-level qualifications, according to figures compiled by an expert group.

 

Nearly a third of Europe's population aged 25-64 have no, or only low, formal qualifications and only one quarter have high-level qualifications, according to the 'New Skills for New Jobs' report.

 

The document, written by an independent panel established by the European Commission, was published in February and is expected to feed into a new skills strategy due to be launched by the EU executive later this year.

 

Workers who are trained do not always have the right skills that employers are looking for, thus creating mismatches in the labour market.

 

Unemployment in the EU 27 has hit 10%, but skilled workers are significantly less likely to be out of work. Figures released with the report also show that companies that train their staff are 2.5 times less likely to go out of business compared to firms that do not.

 

However, experts warned the growth in temporary and contract working arrangements could make employers less likely to invest in upgrading skills.

 

"It is amazing how unskilled workers, with poor language skills still seem to think they just need to turn up to get a job offer" say Chris Slay of Skills Provision " Politicians are adept are shutting the gate after the horse has bolted and the educational systems have not served the people well in Western Europe where Apprenticeships have been out of favour for a generation but need to return. This will help the  skilled workers from Eastern Europe fill the gaps in the short term but is not a permanent solution being both economically and politically destabilising."