What drives workes' participation in digital skills training? Evidence from Cedefop's Second European Skills and Jobs Survey

Chapter 5 in Cedefop's Working Paper, Human-centred digital transitions and skill mismatches in European workplaces

This Chapter is an extended version of a Science for Policy Brief (Bertoni et al., 2024, https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC137073). It examines the topic of digital skills mismatches in European workplaces through the lens of participation in digital skills training using data from Cedefop's Second European Digital Skills and Jobs Survey (collected 2020-2021). Key findings are that 35% of EU workers had experienced some form of technological change in the workplace. While one in eight EU workers reported a significant digital skills gap (consistent with other recent sources of evidence), they were more likely to participate in digital skills training in organisations where training needs are systematically reviewed. Also, although digital skills training was generally well-targeted to those in need. as well as those with high or intensive digital job-skills requirements, there is a need to increase training participation, particularly among workers who may be at risk of role or task displacement due to technological change, or who may be unaware of their training needs. Individual attitudes and perceptions, such as fear of automation, also predicted participation in digital skills training. Overall, the analysis provides evidence for targeted policy actions to reduce digital skill mismatches and improve labour market outcomes.

BERTONI Eleonora;  COSGROVE Judith;  POULIAKAS Konstantinos;  SANTANGELO Giulia; 

2026-01-27

Cedefop

JRC144581

978-92-896-3920-0 (online),   

1831-2403 (online),   

https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/publications/2238,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC144581,   

10.2801/9894877 (online),