On 26-27 May, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit participated in the Porto Social Forum 2023, an event that focused on skills as key drivers of the green and digital transitions. The Commissioner highlighted the need for people across the EU to have the skills to succeed in today’s labour market, and welcomed the work of a Porto-based project that prepares Portuguese workers with digital skills.
Skills projects in Porto: the ongoing revolution
Porto’s Centre for the Development of Digital Skills has supported people in Portugal’s Norte and Centro regions for over 35 years. The Centre offers upskilling and lifelong-learning programmes for people who already have a job, as well as requalification and adult education for jobseekers. Its activities have helped individuals to re-engage with education, achieve better qualifications and a find a second opportunity in their careers. The Centre implements the #digitalReskilling project, which promotes the professional requalification of unemployed youth and adults by teaching skills in emerging digital fields, alongside soft skills like leadership and entrepreneurship. The Centre has been funded with over €4 million from the European Social Fund (ESF), support that will continue under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
During his speech at the Porto Social Forum, Commissioner Schmit said: 'To help Member States implement these much-needed skills programmes, €65 billion in EU funding has been earmarked from the European Social Fund Plus and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. I have visited some fantastic training centres over the past three years across the EU, and seen the great work being done to provide education and skills. Just 10 minutes from where we are gathered today in Porto, you find a skills programme supported by the ESF: the Centre for Development of Digital Skills which targets unemployed people in particular.'
The European Pillar of Social Rights: ESF+ support
The ESF has been Europe’s main instrument for investing in people for decades. This work will continue under the ESF+, which will support the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The Pillar sets out 20 guiding rights and principles for a strong social Europe that is fair, inclusive and full of opportunities.
The European Year of Skills: a new mindset
The green transition could create up to one million additional jobs in the EU by 2030, and policies need to ensure Member States are ready for this transformation. Europe’s labour market must be properly prepared, people must have the opportunity to develop transversal skills and be ready to take over new tasks and new jobs – possibly in new companies and new sectors.
The European Year of Skills is a campaign to help Member States meet these challenges, promoting a new mindset across the EU so workers and businesses start considering upskilling, reskilling and training as the norm. Governments, companies, social partners, civil society, training providers and relevant stakeholders will be invited to focus on implementation on the roll-out of skills-development plans while making full use of all available funding.
