Nurturing Talent in Europe: How to Attract and Retain Skilled Workers

Europe has got talent, but it is also going through a demographic transition. Many regions suffer from a shrinking #LabourForce and a low percentage of people with a tertiary education (universities and higher vocational education). Moreover, there are regions that face the departure of young people. If these issues are not tackled, they could impact the resilience and competitiveness of the EU.??

For this reason, the European Commission has launched the Talent Booster Mechanism. The purpose of this mechanism is to support those EU regions that are affected by the accelerated decline of their #working age population in #training, retaining and attracting people with competences and skills.??

The Mechanism is presented in the Communication on harnessing talent in Europe’s regions , which offers solutions to support regions most affected by the demographic transition. The Mechanism is part of the EU’s commitment to leaving nobody and no place behind. By helping regions address the challenges of the demographic change, the EU can ensure that all regions have the opportunity to prosper and thrive.?

The reality of this demographic change is the following. The working age population in the EU has decreased by 3.5 million people between 2015 and 2020 and will shrink by another 35 million people by 2050. Currently, 82 regions in 16 Member States are facing the loss of #talent.?

The Talent Booster Mechanism is developed on 8 pillars:?

• A new pilot project to help regions develop and implement strategies to train, attract, and retain skilled workers.?
• A new initiative, ‘Smart adaptation of regions to demographic transition’ to help regions adapt to the demographic transition and invest in talent development.?
• Support for reforms at national and regional level to address the shrinking of the working-age population and the lack of skills through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI).?
• Funding for innovation and opportunities for high-skill jobs in shrinking regions through Cohesion Policy programs and the Interregional Innovation Investments.?
• A new call for innovative actions to test solutions addressing developing, retaining, and attracting skilled workers.?

• A dedicated webpage for EU initiatives that support the development of talents.?
• Exchange of experiences and dissemination of best practices.?
• Development of analytical knowledge to support evidence-based policies on regional development and migration.?

The Harnessing Talent Communication likewise points out that Cohesion Policy will continue to help the affected regions diversify their economy, improve services and public administration and ensure the involvement of regional and local authorities, all of which are necessary to attract and retain talent.??

Concerning regional and local authorities, they may draw inspiration from the Communication, as it provides many examples of national and regional initiatives that effectively address the demographic challenges in a local context.??

In addition, the Commission has launched the Harnessing Talent Platform (HTP) . Through the Platform, the European Commission will promote events and best practices, as well as access to technical assistance and advice to regions in need.??

Are you an employer from one of the affected regions, looking to attract skilled workers? Head over to the EURES platform , register as an #employer, and find your ideal candidate!??

#EURESjobs?