ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

EFCI - the Brussels-based organisation representing the cleaning and facility services sector at EU level - has joined with other European employers' associations to publish a joint statement under the title ‘Reducing labour shortages by improving skills matching'.

An initiative of BusinessEurope, the statement invites policy makers and social partners to take concrete actions in order to reduce labour shortages by improving skills matching across European Member States.

The statement explains that growing skills mismatches and labour force shortages are a reality in a majority of Member States. If left unaddressed, this worrying trend will have a negative impact on innovation and productivity.

The joint statement has been sent to the European Commission and to members of the European Parliament, and is being promoted via social media.

The statement says: "Around 13 million new jobs have been created since 2014, but many vacancies are left unfilled and many employers are facing difficulties finding the people with the skills they need.

"It can also be noted that the unemployment rate remains very high - around 10 per cent and above in some Member States. This recent trend has exacerbated the pre-existing structural labour market challenges caused by population ageing, and skills provision that is not sufficiently connected with labour market needs.Overall, skills mismatches are the major determinants of labour shortages."

It continues: "Not only is there the emergence of new jobs that require new skills, but existing jobs are profoundly transformed, with some tasks disappearing and some new tasks being added. Additionally, a key challenge across sectors and different work levels is the lack of basic digital skills.

"Achieving a better link between skills training and innovation is also key to ensuring that European
companies have the competitive advantage they need to attract customers and grow.

"Another important challenge is to foster increasing employment participation levels of women and to simultaneously achieve a more balanced representation of men and women across fields of education, occupations and sectors."

So employers are calling on policy makers and social partners at EU and national level to work
together to tackle the situation.