European Labor Markets: Mastering Technological and Structural Change

EconPol - Pillars Conference

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Brussels

The convergence of big data, artificial intelligence and extreme automation has proved highly disruptive to labor markets not just in Europe, but around the world. Add to this shifting trade patterns, with globalization giving way to regionalization and supply chains in turmoil, while entire industries are being upended through the efforts to decarbonize economies and adapt to climate change, and the need to hone new skills becomes clearly unavoidable. But which skills exactly will be required? What will future labor markets even look like? And what kind of reforms to education and training systems can ease the creation and adoption of such skills?

These are some of the key issues to be addressed by the “European Labor Markets: Mastering Technological and Structural Change” conference, to be held in Brussels on July 11-12 at the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU. The conference is part of the EU Horizon 2020 Pillars – Pathways to Inclusive Labor Markets project, and supported by EconPol, the CESifo Research Network’s economic policy platform.

On the first day, a high-level lineup of scholars will present ongoing research and the new methods they are using, such as internet data to predict labor market developments. On the second day, researchers and European Commission policymakers will discuss policy implications associated with such topics as the effects of competition with China and Latin America on the European labor markets and the impact of extreme automation; they will also analyze some successful policy examples.

The Pillars project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program as part of the work program “Europe In a Changing World - Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies”. The project consists of ten partners, eight EU partners and one partner in China and Latin America. Pillars will achieve its objectives, i.e. to provide policy makers and the public with information about what kind of (new) skills will be in demand and how to revise education and training systems to create the opportunities to acquire them, through the combined efforts of these partners. More information on www.h2020-pillars.eu.

Venue: Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union, Rue Wiertz 77, B-1000 Brussels

See the full program here.