BusinessEurope reaction to EU action plan on labour and skills shortages

20 March 2024 - Reacting to the EU action plan on labour and skills shortages published today by the European Commission, just before the European Year of Skills comes to an end, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer said: "With labour and skills shortages hitting our companies and labour markets, we welcome today’s publication of the Commission action plan to address them. This challenge is structural and will be with us for the next generation."

"The Commission rightly identified the need to work simultaneously on reducing inactivity within Europe, supporting mobility at EU level, and improving Europe’s attractiveness to skilled third country nationals.

The proposed plan also acknowledges that social partners are best placed to improve working conditions in certain occupations and sectors through their collective bargaining. The EU and Member States should support social dialogue solutions at EU and national level and must respect the autonomy of the social partners."