How to eradicate skills poverty among the most vulnerable?

In a context of changing labour market needs due to the green and digital transitions and the still gaping skill divides across society, the European Commission proposes a number of actions 'to give a fresh impetus to lifelong learning'. This includes 'Promoting increased, and more effective and inclusive investment in training and upskilling to harness the full potential of the European workforce, and to support people in changing from one job to another

The aim of the study is to  examine various skills divides, including digital skills, and their links to poverty and social exclusion. Examining the various characteristics, drivers and solutions to the skills divide will help reduce the mismatch between skills and the demands of the labour market but also give insights into how we can combat poverty and design effective policies to reach the most vulnerable people, with the ultimate goal of combatting and reducing skills poverty.

Through concrete examples the study will define and illustrate skills poverty, including as regards digital skills, as well as explore who is concerned, what the drivers are and how upskilling and reskilling should be designed.

Following the understanding that individuals or groups of individuals experience multiple forms of discrimination based on their different social characteristics or identities, this study will adopt an intersectional approach.

Client: The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)