The pandemic, the transition to a green economy and technological developments have reshaped the world of work and have highlighted the criticality of digital skills for workers preparing for their future, as they are among the most sought-after skills.

The Resetting Normal 2021 survey of of the Adecco Group has revealed a global trend towards massive upskilling. 69% of participants are looking for more digital education opportunities in the post-covid era.

The most sought-after skills in the future

The pandemic has forced businesses to increase remote work and accelerate digitalisation and automation. As pointed out at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Jobs Reset Summit, many new job roles will rely heavily on technological skills.

According to the Future of Work Report, by 2025 both humans and automated machines will work the same number of hours. Automation will result in the loss of EUR 85 million; Jobs. Mostly manual and positions that require repetitive procedures, such as assembly plant workers and accountants. The same report predicts that the skills that will be most in demand by 2025 are related to:

• Data Science & Cloud Computing - cloud computing jobs include data architects, programmers and data scientists
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
• Big Data Science
• Digital Marketing & Strategy
• Process Automation
• Business Development
• Digital Transformation
• Information Security (including cybersecurity industry)
• Software and Application Development (UX/UI, blockchain programming)
• Internet Internet of Things

However, some soft skills are also sought after in the labor market as the list also includes skills such as:

• Problem solving
• Self-organization (Self-Management)
• Collaborate with other people

Identifying policies related to upskilling and re-skilling in response to the changing labour market

Individual Learning Accounts for the labour market

In the European Commission's Work Programme in 2021, the launch of an Individual Learning Accounts initiative was announced This was accompanied by an assessment of the impact of this new initiative aimed at 'helping to fill existing gaps in access to new training programmes for adults in the workforce, so that with appropriate support, they can respond to changes in the labour market'. The role of the Individual Learning Account is to provide people who are of suitable age to work and reside in an EU Member State with the opportunity to invest in their training in order to improve their skills and consequently their employability levels.

Micro-credentials

Alternative forms of education are becoming increasingly popular. The skills acquired by the employee during his career are of greater importance than degrees in some disciplines. In the same proposal of the European Commission, the Member States are invited to establish micro-credentials which will be recognised by businesses and organisations within the EU. The aim is to ensure that micro-credentials are of high quality. They will also be issued in a transparent manner so that they can be used by both employees and job seekers.

Apprenticeships

According to the ILO's International Labour Conference, "quality apprenticeships can be effective and efficient tools that respond to current challenges and provide lifelong learning opportunities to enhance productivity, employability and meet current and future labour market needs".

The most sought-after skills - Public & Private Partnership Private Sector

An important role in upgrading the skills of employees is played by public-private cooperation. This is the only way to ensure that All employees have access to new skills programmes. The new reality after the pandemic, but also the explosion of inflation observed internationally,requires concerted action by all stakeholders. The coordination of education service providers, with public sector enterprises and organisations, results in upskilling programmes being more directly linked to the labour market. As a result, the beneficiaries respond better to the changing needs of the labour market.

Konstantinos Mylonas Cluster Head of Adecco Group in Greece, Romania and Bulgaria for the most sought-after skills

"The main challenge facing businesses today is the constant changes in the external technological, economic, political and social environment to which they have to adapt at a rapid pace. Companies that invest in training programs help their employees develop important new skills to keep up with ever-changing market dynamics while also promoting a stronger learning culture for the company with long-term benefits in terms of corporate identity and culture."