The European Year of Skills starts on 9 May 2023, which is Europe Day. It is meant to make the Europe-wide efforts to fight the skilled labour shortage more visible. Its aim is to motivate and help people to acquire the skills they need to become skilled workers and to show enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, European solutions and ways to address the skilled labour shortage in the EU.
The European Commission agreed on three social targets to be achieved by 2030. One of them is that at least 60 % of all adults should participate in training every year. The European Year of Skills will give a boost to these targets.
European Year of Skills
How? By collecting and showcasing skills development opportunities across Europe and by making the recognition of qualifications across borders easier. Organisations and people will be brought together to share their experiences and insights and to show how EU initiatives and national programmes can help.
Together with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will be responsible for coordinating the “European Year of Skills” in Germany.
In Germany, the European initiative can build on a number of measures that have already been taken. In autumn 2022, the Federal Government published the Skilled Labour Strategy that is meant to fight the skilled labour shortage. On the basis of this strategy, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs prepared legislation including the Skills Act, the Act to Promote an Inclusive Labour Market and, together with the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, the Skilled Immigration Act. The Federal Employment Agency is planning to set up the National Online Continuing Education and Training Platform (NOW) by spring 2025. The platform will make it easier to participate in continuing education and training measures. Various events for the general public and/or experts will put skills centre-stage. For example, the first high-level national skills conference is planned for November 2023.
Your event in the Europe-wide calendar
Events and awareness-raising campaigns will happen across the EU. How can you get involved?
- Submit your events and activities on the website of the European Commission.
- Do not hesitate to use the communication tool of the European Year of Skills for your public relations work. You can download it here.
Further information is available on the website of the European Commission.
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Germany is a nation of innovators, craftsmen and skilled workers. Find out what we have planned to ensure that working as a skilled worker has a future in Germany, thus securing the skilled labour needed by companies.