E-skills for the 21st century: Fostering competitiveness, growth and jobs

Policy Reports

The communication from the European Commission recognizes the contribution of ICT to the European economy, and the innovation and uptake of ICT for growth and jobs. The document proposes that there is a ‘growing demand of highly-skilled ICT practitioners and users’ to ‘meet the fast-changing requirements of industry’ and ensure digital literacy and e-Inclusion. This demand requires the solving of a range of e-skills (ICT-related skills) issues to be addressed. Furthermore, such complex challenges may only be addressed by ‘a real mobilisation of Member States and industry’. For this purpose, the communication presents a list of main challenges, and points for the long-term e-skills agenda. The main challenges range from the issue that e-skills are not seen as a long-term policy issue, there is a lack of EU-wide approach, to the persistence of digital illiteracy. The ideas for a long-term e-skills agenda range from promoting long-term cooperation and monitoring progress, raising awareness, to fostering employability and social inclusion.