Brussels, 21/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Coordinated by the European Commission, the European digital skills week e-skills week 2012, from 19 to 30 March, aims to raise awareness among young people about new information and communication technologies and jobs in the sector, offering individuals and professionals, particularly young graduates and the owners of SMEs, the opportunity to take part in training seminars, conferences and competitions dedicated to the subject of ICT. The event, which is an initiative of the Commission's DG Enterprise and Industry, has been organised in some 30 European countries and is also coordinated by the association representing the European digital technology industry, DigitalEurope, and the network of education ministers, European Schoolnet. The European Economic and Social Committee posted the opening conference of e-skills week 2012 at its headquarters on Monday.
Although it generates 5% of European GDP and represents an annual market value of €660 billion, the European ICT sector contributes far more to productivity growth through ICT investments in all sectors, the European executive stresses in a press release. In spite of the economic crisis, the ICT workforce has maintained a growth rate of 3% across Europe, comprising 4.7 million ICT professionals in 2007 and according to forecasts, is expected to rise to 5.26 million in 2015. In more general terms, 90% of all jobs will require digital skills across all sectors of activity by 2015. With Europe's evolution into a knowledge-based society, jobs requiring a high level of education will rise from 25% to 31%. Additionally, Europe is suffering from a growing professional ICT shortage with a shortfall of as many as 700,000 professionals by 2015. This considerable increase in qualification levels is based on the use of digital skills, a prerequisite for improving employability, and for learning and seeking employment online, the Commission argues. For more information, see: http://eskills-week.ec.europa.eu . (EH/transl.fl)