The recent EU Social Forum 2025, taking place in Brussels on 5 and 6 March, brought together thought leaders, policymakers, and key stakeholders to discuss critical challenges coming from the ongoing multiple transitions — digital, green, and labor market shortages -, with a spotlight particularly on skills development, sectoral shifts, and the future of work. The event was the occasion for launching the Union of Skills, marking a new chapter in the continent’s efforts to address the growing demand for talent and ensure that workers are equipped to thrive in the coming decades.
EUREGHA and EIT Health, partners of the BeWell project, attended the conference to connect and exchange with key experts in the field, representing respectively the Large-Scale Partnership for the Health Ecosystem, coordinated by BeWell, and Large-Scale Skills Partnership for the Health Industry, which has recently kick-off the BRIGHTskills project. The Forum was a unique opportunity to continue building synergies between the two health-focused Partnerships and share experiences with other LSPs, especially the ones for the Digital Ecosystem and Automotive Skills Alliance, reaffirming the importance of the Pact for Skills as a key platform for collaboration to strengthen workers’ skills in Europe.
The Forum highlighted the interconnected challenges of digital and green transitions and their impact on workforce development. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced many workers to adopt new digital tools, a significant gap remains. The digital divide remains particularly evident between urban and rural areas, where rural regions lag behind in digital skill intensity.
Alongside digital transformation, the forum also focused on the green transition, emphasizing the increasing demand for specific green skills, from high-tech roles like engineers to manual laborers in sectors like waste disposal and recycling. These green jobs, however, present a challenge in terms of job quality, as many are poorly paid and associated with hazardous conditions. To ensure a successful green transition, it’s critical that workers in these sectors are properly reskilled to meet new sustainability goals, while also improving job conditions.
The forum underscored the need for an integrated approach to addressing both digital and green skills and preparing for future-oriented occupations. As these sectors grow, targeted investments in education and training will be essential to prepare the workforce for future opportunities. Bridging the digital divide and ensuring that workers are equipped with both digital and green skills will be key to creating an inclusive, resilient workforce capable of meeting the demands of the evolving job market.
The forum concluded with a call to action for continued investment in education and training programs, with a particular emphasis on improving digital literacy and preparing workers for the green economy. By addressing these skills gaps and promoting inclusivity, Europe can build a resilient workforce capable of thriving in an increasingly digital and sustainable world.
More information about the event is available here.
Read the new European Commission’s Communication on the Union of Skills.
Interested in joining the Partnership for the Health Ecosystem? Read more here.
