At the MEDPOL meeting today, CEEP General Secretary, Valeria Ronzitti, highlighted the need to focus on a topic often sidelined to discussions on employment and social issues: that of skills mismatches. She contended that this issue warranted more attention, as “persistent skills mismatches are detrimental to the productivity growth potential. In other words, they have macro-economic consequences”.

CEEP calls for investment in human capital to counteract the skills mismatch challenge. Wage formation processes that provide employment opportunities for people with less experience and education are also of vital importance. Investments are needed in the types of human capital that are lacking. Ms Ronzitti stated: “The main ideas that are outlined in the Commission’s Social Investment Package are a good starting point. But as a whole, the Package seems to play down the pure productivity-enhancing aspects of increased human capital.”

Valeria Ronzitti concluded by emphasising the positive contribution of public services in creating growth and employment. “Measures need to be put in place in order to support job creation where there is a huge potential, such as in the low carbon economy and in healthcare and social services.” This will have a positive impact on the general employment situation and in particular on the severe youth unemployment level in Europe.

For further information, please contact:

Priya Klinkenberg- tel. +32 (0) 2 229 21 40
CEEP gathers enterprises and organisations from across Europe, both public and private, at national, regional and local level, which are public employers or providers of services of general interest. CEEP members contribute to more than 26% of EU GDP and employ 30% of the EU workforce; CEEP is one of the three general corss-industry European Social Partners.