Luxembourg, 09/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 9 June, the Employment and Social Affairs Council of the EU adopted conclusions on anticipating labour market needs and meeting these needs by placing particular emphasis on youth - an initiative concerning employment and skills. It considers that assessing future needs in skills could above all highlight: (1) demographic and technological changes and globalisation in general; (2) education and training as part of lifelong learning needed for raising the average level of proficiency within the population; (3) inadequacy between supply and demand on the labour market, which is one of the main reasons why there is unemployment among young people; and (4) the importance of actions in favour of social, professional and geographical mobility.
Ministers also invite member states to: (1) pursue modernisation of their labour markets so that these more effectively meet provisions concerning labour market developments and with a view to making labour supply match labour demand; (2) promote vocational training, professional experience and the recognition of informal training, including, where necessary, through the homologation of qualifications required; and (3) reduce school failure and take action to reduce the number of school drop outs. Ministers also invite the European Commission to present, for the 2009 spring European Council, its first assessment of future skill needs in Europe until 2010, taking into account the impact of technological progress and demographic changes.
Finally, the Council approved the opinion by the Employment Committee on youth employment. (G.B./transl. jl)