Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameos highlighted three major challenges facing Europe's labour market in her remarks at the Employment and Social Policy Council (EPSCO), held in Luxembourg.
The minister took part in a session entitled: “The Quality Jobs Act: Social Europe in the Workplace”.
The session was held under the Irish presidency and attended by European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, who is responsible for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness.
In her remarks, the minister identified three major challenges facing Europe's labour market, namely:
a) skills mismatches,
b) major technological changes and
c) health and safety challenges.
On skills mismatches, the minister said Europe faces skills mismatches, labour shortages and demographic pressures, challenges that are being compounded by the arrival of artificial intelligence.
“We need to provide better training, earlier and based on evidence,” Niki Kerameos said, adding: “in Greece, we use a mechanism to identify labour market needs so that we can develop targeted vocational training programmes to meet specific needs.
At European level, we should invest more in the European Skills Observatory, map skills needs, ensure that national mechanisms for forecasting needs are interoperable, and align vocational education with international needs”.
On technological change, the minister said artificial intelligence offers significant opportunities to boost productivity, drive innovation and strengthen competitiveness.
“The challenge we face is to unlock this potential and make the most of the benefits of automation and artificial intelligence, while safeguarding workers’ rights. The Quality Jobs Act should advance legislation to promote transparency and human oversight across the wider labour market”.
On workplace health and safety , the minister stressed that European safety standards should keep pace with changes in working conditions and put workers’ health and wellbeing at the centre.
“All workers should have the opportunity to develop their skills, know their rights and feel safe and respected at work. This is what the Quality Jobs Act should ensure—not on paper, but in practice for all workers in Europe,” the minister concluded.