Amid rapid economic transformation and growing global competition, the European Union is placing skills at the heart of its vision for a competitive, inclusive and resilient future. The 2025 European Employment and Social Rights Forum, held on March 5 and 6 in Brussels, gathered over 4,500 participants in Brussels and online. They explored how Europe can equip its workforce for the challenges ahead while remaining globally competitive.
Under the theme Skills for a Competitive Europe, the two-day forum brought together high-level policymakers, business leaders, labor market experts and civil society representatives. Their message was clear: addressing Europe’s growing skills gaps is not just a matter of economic survival — it is also the key to social cohesion and shared prosperity in the years to come.
A changing labor market demands a new approach
The forum opened with a clear call to action from Mario Nava, director-general for employment, social affairs and inclusion at the European Commission. “Competitiveness and strong social rights are intrinsically linked and you cannot have one without the other. They are two sides of the same coin,” Nava said. He outlined three main goals: keeping employment high and of good quality, bolstering citizens’ well-being, and providing real opportunities for people of all ages.
That sentiment was echoed in a compelling fireside chat with former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who brought a human-centered perspective to the economic conversation. “We need to invest especially in people in this era when we are going to the unknown with this technological transformation. That will be something that we haven’t witnessed before and the pace will be so fast that we really should boost up our effort on this. We are as strong as our weakest links,” Marin argued. “This is the basic principle [of] how we should view Europe in the future and investing in our education system,” she added.
This people-first approach shaped the tone for much of the first day, particularly in a keynote address by Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn. Drawing on real-time labor market data from LinkedIn’s vast user base in Europe, Roslansky emphasized how digital and green transitions are rapidly reshaping the types of skills employers need. He pointed to the surge in demand for artificial intelligence-related capabilities, the accelerated pace of change in job requirements, and the growing gap between available talent and evolving roles. He called for a shift toward a more agile, inclusive and skills-based approach to training and hiring.
From policy vision to practical tools: the Union of Skills
Earlier that day, the European Commission had presented the Union of Skills — a new EU strategy designed to strengthen the EU’s human capital and competitiveness. The forum provided a timely platform for the Commission’s executive vice-president for social rights and skills, quality jobs and preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, to present the strategy in detail. The new overarching initiative aims to deliver higher levels of basic skills, provide lifelong opportunities for adults to regularly learn new and additional skills, help workers to move freely across the EU via a skills portability initiative, and attract and retain top talent to Europe.
Mînzatu appealed to the experts and the stakeholders in the room to work together: “It’s a joint effort. In every sector, in every industry, the partnership that we can build between the public sector, the educational sector, and the private sector is absolutely essential.”
Can Europe be competitive and fair?
The second day of the forum featured breakout sessions on various aspects of employment and social policies. Participants discussed a fundamental question — can Europe strengthen its economic position without leaving people behind? The consensus: competitiveness and inclusion are not mutually exclusive, and achieving both requires smart policy design and long-term commitment. Investment in skills must go hand in hand with support for vulnerable groups, fair working conditions, and mechanisms to ensure that economic transformation does not deepen inequalities.
Other sessions discussed the role of work integration social enterprises in supporting disadvantaged groups, Europe’s journey to becoming both competitive and inclusive, and the promotion of adult learning through individual learning accounts. Additional topics included recent research findings on skills, digital tools for mobility within the EU, success stories from programs of the European Social Fund Plus, the Social Climate Fund, and evolving retirement paths through financial skills and awareness.
Building momentum beyond Brussels
The forum served as both a milestone and a springboard. The EU has committed over €150 billion to initiatives related to education and skills, but Nava and other speakers made clear that public investment alone will not be enough.
Speakers like Li Andersson, a member of European Parliament, and Niki Kerameus, the Greek labor minister, emphasized the need to embed skills policies into broader economic and social strategies. With new initiatives on the horizon, including a quality jobs roadmap and an anti-poverty strategy, the path forward requires collaboration and coordinated action across sectors — from government and industry to education providers and civil society.
Ultimately, the forum delivered a powerful reminder: Europe’s greatest competitive advantage is its people. A resilient and dynamic labor market depends not only on economic reform but on the ability to empower everyone — from factory floors to boardrooms — with the skills, confidence and opportunities to thrive.
The European Employment and Social Rights Forum 2025 provided a timely and powerful reminder that investing in people is not a cost, it is a strategic choice. As Europe prepares for the next decade of transformation, it is the skills of its citizens that will shape its future.
Watch the replay of all sessions and join the mailing list at eusocialforum.eu/2025/
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