By Martin Banks

The EU and its member states have been urged to address the skills shortage across Europe.

The demand comes from the group that represents the business community at EU level, BusinessEurope.

The  respected Brussels-based organisation was reacting to the findings of a Deloitte study on Access to Skills, commissioned to examine employers’ skills challenges across Europe.

The Deloitte study examines employers’ skills challenges across Europe and actions to address them at European, national and sectoral levels.

The extensive study provides an evidence-based assessment of the skills access landscape from an employer’s perspective.

Building on Cedefop data and up to 100 interviews conducted by Deloitte, the research examines changing needs under the Net Zero Industry Act and the 60% adult training target by 2030.

Reacting to the study, comment came from BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer.

He said: “Europe cannot strengthen its competitiveness without addressing skills shortages.”

He added, “Across sectors, companies face labour shortages and a growing mismatch between available skills and evolving job requirements, driven in part by demographic change and the green and digital transitions.

“Companies are investing in their workforce: 82% of surveyed companies use continuous staff training to meet skills needs.

“Yet time constraints, limited organisational capacity and costs can make it difficult to provide training, particularly for SMEs.”

Beyrer went on, “We need to turn better knowledge of skills requirements into training that better meets companies’ skills needs.

“This means updating curricula to reflect labour-market needs and expanding flexible, work-based and modular learning. Digital and AI-enabled tools can help, and practical experience and foundational skills remain essential.

“Labour mobility and international recruitment can also widen the talent pool, supported by better recognition of qualifications and skills gained at work.”

He  said employers, social partners, education and training providers, and policymakers “must work together” to reduce skills shortages.

“Europe needs better-connected skills systems that make effective use of existing initiatives and funding, with employers playing a meaningful role in identifying skills needs and shaping training responses,” he states.

“Closing the skills gap is essential to Europe’s long-term competitiveness.”

Meanwhile, a separate report says that the quality of jobs in the EU has improved over the past decade.

This is according to the  2026 European Employment and Social Outlook.

The report points to progress in three areas: pay, job security, and working time. It shows that better-quality jobs help build a strong, productive and competitive economy.

The report finds that better-quality jobs can raise productivity by improving motivation, reducing staff turnover, encouraging skills development and supporting better work organisation.

The report also looks at current challenges, including slowing employment growth, weak productivity growth, and pressure on household incomes from high energy prices.

It highlights that labour shortages are often more pronounced in poorer-quality jobs, showing that improving job quality can help attract and retain workers where they are most needed. In turn, higher productivity can help improve wages and working conditions.

Comment comes from Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, who said,  “Europe’s labour market remains strong.

“Wages are back to pre-pandemic levels. But employment growth is slowing, poverty reduction is not yet matching our ambition, and high energy prices are weighing especially on lower-income households. We are committed to creating more high-quality jobs across the EU. With the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act, we want to make sure work is available, fair, safe and rewarding for everyone.”