Brussels, 10/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - It is now easier to see what professions are most valued or which are subject to significant demand due to a shortage of skilled staff throughout the member states of the EU. On Friday 7 December, the European Commission launched the online “European Skills Panorama” internet portal. Just by clicking, users can obtain a comparison of short and medium term supply and demand in skills.
This “panorama” illustrates the fact that demand for labour is highest in the medical, financial and commercial sectors. Belgium, Ireland and Lithuania are categorised in the EU as being subject to acute imbalances between supply and demand for certain skills.
One of the greatest paradoxes in the current situation on the EU labour market is that unemployment levels still stand at a record 10.7%, whilst around 2 million jobs are still vacant. Increasing the mobility of European workers has therefore become one of the objectives that the Commission has set itself. This virtual platform is contained among the measures proposed in the new version of the “Annual Growth Examination” (see EUROPE 10741). It compiles detailed information and categorises according to the sector, professional and country. In this first version, the Commission is ultimately simply presenting data provided by Eurostat (the EU Statistical Office) and member states more clearly and in a more accessible way. In the long term, this site will, “ultimately help to direct jobseekers to the most demanded occupations throughout Europe”, explained Commissioner Laszlo Andor, responsible for employment issues. For further information: http://euskillspanorama.ec.europa.eu (JK/transl.fl)