Council adopts Conclusions on labour and skills shortages in the EU

Although the conclusions do not mention Roma people, Member States are invited to implement measures focusing on young people and paying a special attention to NEETs, group in which Roma are overrepresented. They are also asked to make full use of relevant EU funding instruments, in particular the ESF+, to support and finance measures aimed at increasing labour market participation.

At its meeting on 2 December, the Council adopted Conclusions on the labour and skills shortages in the EU. Addressing labour and skills shortages is a significant challenge of the EU, impacting its competitiveness, sustainable and inclusive growth, innovation potential, social cohesion, and progress in green and digital transitions. In conclusions adopted by the Council, it urges Member states to tackle these shortages by enhancing support for training and education, with a focus on people who are currently underrepresented in the workforce.

The Council recommends Member states, among other things, to implement inclusive employment policies to tackle labour shortages by promoting up- and reskilling, supporting youth employment, considering specific needs of older workers, with a focus on gender employment and pay gaps and supporting people with disabilities, and underrepresented groups, and enhancing career guidance systems.

Although the conclusions do not mention Roma people, the recommendations invite Member states to implement measures focusing on young people and paying a special attention to NEETs, group in which Roma are overrepresented. It also asks Member states to “Make full use of relevant EU funding instruments, in particular the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), to support and finance measures aimed at increasing labour market participation.”

Member states and the European Commission are urged to promote policy coherence at EU and national level, to improve labour forecasting as well as data gathering and analysis, and to explore further the use of new technologies for workforce inclusion. The Employment and Social Protection Committee is invited to monitor labour and skills shortages and related challenges in the EU, fostering knowledge sharing among Member states, and analysing the impact of digitalisation and automation technologies on the labour market.

Council Conclusions follow the action plan on labour and skills shortages in the EU published by the European Commission in March 2024. This plan, which was drafted in cooperation with the social partners, is considered a key deliverable of the European Year of Skills and follows up on the Val Duchesse Social Partners Summit that took place on 31 January 2024. Employment and social affairs ministers discussed labour and skills shortages at the EPSCO Council in July 2024, as part of a policy debate that took place in the context of the European Semester.