Digital skills
Simplon – coding as a tool for social inclusion
The company Simplon trains free of charge long-term job seekers and employees in retraining to become web developers, a project currently supported by different categories of European funds. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Forget the skills gap, in energy cyber security, it’s a chasm
There are frighteningly few cyber security experts with the right skills in the electricity industry, warns Michael John. While there is room for hope in the longer-term, he outlines what can be done now to plug the gaps.
Work 4.0 – opportunities and risks
Digitization is on everyone’s lips and will change the working world in the next couple of years. For employers this poses a range of risks – but could also open some chances, as a recent analysis shows. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Europe is recovering but needs to confront lingering dangers to its unity
Europe is on the road to recovery which means now is the time for it to take the lead on a global scale and tackle the concerns and needs of its citizens, write Martina Larkin and Eckart Windhagen.
Cohesion funds can stop Europe from moving at different speeds
Cross-border and inter-regional cooperation in cohesion and research & development spending is still limited, but very much needed to prevent a multi-speed Europe writes Lambert van Nistelrooij. To unlock Europe's growth opportunities, the MEP calls for smart regional specialisation and an Innovation Pact 2.0.
If Europe wants to lead, it needs to invest in digital skills
Northern European countries are in a strong position to reap the benefits of digitalisation, according to new research from McKinsey. But this will depend on how fast companies adopt new technologies, and how quickly people can acquire the skills needed for new, or different jobs, writes Iarla Flynn.
What is next for eGovernment ?
This year the Estonian EU Presidency is putting eGovernment at the forefront of discussions leading up to a Tallinn Declaration. Estonia is ranked number 1 in the EU and has emerged as a global leader in eGovernment operations.
Navracsics: Education policy is tomorrow’s economic policy
Europe's future schools need to be more skills-oriented. Faced with falling education expenditure, member states need to keep focused on their education policy goals to ensure returns on investment, according to EU Education Commissioner Tibor Navracsics.
Digital revolution forces rethink of labour and welfare
The transformation of jobs in the digital era will force governments to review their welfare systems and workers to constantly update their skills, senior European officials, experts and ministers agreed during a conference held in the Estonian capital Tallinn this week.
Estonian minister: The digital economy needs more social Europe
There needs to be an EU-wide solution to precarious app economy jobs, said Estonian Labour and Health Minister Jevgeni Ossinovski in an interview with EURACTIV.com.
Millennials see robots as job creators rather than a threat
Young people remain optimistic about the impact of robots and artificial intelligence in the work place, as a large majority of them believe that more jobs will be created than will disappear, according to a global poll published on Monday (28 August).
Digital skills: who is being left behind?
Some people are being left behind by the digital revolution. But how do you help people who don’t want to be helped?
Darknet guru: New technology can help build European identity
Modern technology could shore up the European project, boost transparency and help governments collect taxes. Author Jamie Bartlett told EURACTIV.com that the EU should become the great technological innovator but warned that politicians simply aren’t prepared for massive changes ahead.
Europe, young talent and the future of work: Employability in the face of technological disruption
With youth unemployment still high in Europe, many companies report difficulties in attracting talent with the right skills.
Lifelong learning, the ‘holy grail’ of social policies in the digital age
The constant retooling of labour skills will be a central element of a European Commission paper on the future of the EU social pillar, to be published on 26 April, EURACTIV.com has learned.
Europe needs more successful data mining startups
The European Commission’s proposed reform on copyright is preventing young companies from using text and data mining technology with full legal certainty, warns Michal Sadowski and Michał Brzezicki.
Your imagination is tomorrow’s innovation
Digital technologies and communication have the potential to uphold a strong and dynamic internal market fit for the digital age, ultimately making every European citizen’s life much better, writes Antonio López-Istúriz.
EIB, WEF tell EU to embed social inclusion in economic policy
At a time of rising inequality across Europe, the European Investment Bank and the World Economic Forum have jointly sounded the alarm bell and called for social inclusion to become an organic part of EU economic policy.
Ansip insists automation won’t cause ‘mass unemployment’
Andrus Ansip, the European Commission Vice-President in charge of digital policy, said he cannot imagine a “mass unemployment scenario” stemming from automation, although he acknowledged technology will bring job losses over the coming years.
EIT Digital boss: Europe needs ‘global mentality’ in innovation
Europe lacks a "global mentality" when it comes to innovation in the digital technology sector, Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Digital) Willem Jonker told EURACTIV Spain.
Deloitte innovation chief: ‘Schools train us to become machines’
John Hagel III is an enthusiastic supporter of the opportunities that innovation and technology can bring. However, the digital transformation of the economy and society is going to be “challenging and stressful for most people", Hagel told EURACTIV.com
WEF member: ‘A very strong willingness exists to achieve inclusive growth’
Inclusive growth became a dominant topic at this year's World Economic Forum (17-20 January). Martina Larkin, the head of Europe and Eurasia for the Forum, admitted there is no “obvious model” for it.
BuzzFeed editor: Brexit calls for European media cooperation
BuzzFeed UK Europe Editor Alberto Nardelli advocates for more translation and localisation of media content, as well as more cooperation to balance out the often biased English-speaking press.