In order to boost competitiveness of European companies, in particular SMEs, to realise the full potential of the digital and green transitions in a socially fair, inclusive and just manner, the 2023 European Year of Skills would further promote a mindset of reskilling and upskilling. The aim is to ensure that nobody is left behind in the twin transitions and the economic recovery, and to notably address labour shortages for a better skilled workforce in the Union that is able to seize the opportunities of this process.

• While the EU average unemployment rate remains stable at 6% in August 2022,4 77% of companies  struggled to find employees with the required skills already in 2019.5 In particular, the  availability of skilled staff and experienced managers is the most important problem for a  quarter of EU’s small and medium-sized enterprises, representing 99% of all EU businesses

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Feedback period: 17 October 2022 – 13 December 2022