EIB Working Papers 2019/05 - Skill shortages and skill mismatch in Europe: A review of the literature

by European Investment Bank (Editor)

Overview

Labour markets are undergoing structural transformation due to globalisation, demographic trends, advancing digital technologies and automation and changes in labour market institutions. Against this background, businesses increasingly report that the limited availability of skills poses an impediment to corporate investment. Genuine skill constraints can negatively affect labour productivity and hamper the ability to innovate and adopt technological developments. For individual Europeans, not having "the right skills" limits employability prospects and access to quality jobs. For Europe at large, persistent skill gaps and mismatches come at economic and social costs.

This paper reviews the recent economic literature on skill mismatch and skill shortages, with a focus on Europe. It questions:

• how the job requirements of individuals can be measured;
• whether skill shortages stated by employers reflect the lack of suitable candidates or are due instead to the wage and working conditions being offered;
• what economic costs are posed by skill mismatch and shortages; and
• how policy can address the issue of skills, including the role of EU policies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789286142710
Publisher:	European Investment Bank
Publication date:	10/15/2019
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	38
File size:	824 KB

About the Author

About European Investment Bank

The European Investment Bank is the world's biggest multilateral lender. The only bank owned by and representing the interests of the EU countries, the EIB finances Europe's economic growth. Over six decades the Bank has backed start-ups like Skype and massive schemes like the Øresund Bridge linking Sweden and Denmark. Headquartered in Luxembourg, the EIB Group includes the European Investment Fund, a specialist financer of small and medium-sized enterprises.