Jobs of tomorrow: what educational skills do we need?

ACCA and PwC hosted a joint event looking at the shortage of skills needed for a healthy European Economy.

In a fast-changing, always more digital, interconnected and knowledge-based global economy, it is vital for the EU’s competitiveness, its prosperity and its capacity to drive innovation, that the jobs of tomorrow are fit for purpose. To that end, educational skills can play an important role in shaping the workforce of tomorrow, making it able to adapt to future labour market needs and adjust to career changes.

However, European Commission figures show that 40% of European employers report that they cannot find people with the right skills to grow and innovate and 77% of Global CEOs are concerned that a shortage of key skills could impair their company’s growth (PwC 20th CEO Survey). In order to help address this mismatch, in June 2016, the European Commission adopted a new Skills Agenda for Europe, which aims to make sure that people develop the skills and competences necessary for the jobs of today and tomorrow. It calls on Member States and stakeholders to improve the quality of skills and their relevance for the labour market, with a focus on digital.

ACCA (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and PwC, in collaboration with our hosts Martina Dlabajova, MEP, and Momchil Nekov, MEP, European Parliament co-rapporteurs on the new skills agenda for Europe report, discussed what has been achieved so far,and what the next steps might be.

Event format and speakers

Welcome speech delivered by Martina Dlabajova, MEP & Momchil Nekov, MEP, co-rapporteurs on the new skills agenda for Europe report

Panel discussion moderated by Maggie McGhee, Director Professional Insights, ACCA

  • Vasiliki Kokkori, Cabinet of Marianne Thyssen, Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Commissioner
  • Jo Lopes, head of Technical Excellence, Jaguar Land Rover
  • Arnold de Boer, Advisor for Social Affairs, UEAPME
  • Michael Kane, PwC Director, led work on the Sheffield City Skills Bank
  • Caroline Jenner, CEO, JAEurope

Concluding remarks by Martina Dlabajova , MEP