(08 June 2018) – Today, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP)has released its ‘2018 Skills Forecast’, which shows future trends in skills needed on the labour market for the period up to 2030 across Europe. The report suggests that four in five new jobs will require a high level of skills.
The Forecast also projects fast growth of high-skills occupations, with some growth in certain less-skilled jobs (for example, sales, security, cleaning, catering and caring occupations). In contrast, the number of jobs in medium-skill occupations, such as skilled manual workers and clerks, is projected to see a very slow growth or even to decline over time.
At the same time, the need to replace the existing workforce (e.g. due to retirement) will generate numerous job openings, including for occupations that are otherwise in declining demand (e.g. metal and machinery trades workers or agricultural workers).
On the supply side, there may be an even larger pool of high-qualified workers from which workers can be drawn, which means that some highly trained workers may therefore end up in jobs below their qualification level.