By Aly Slater – Chief of Staff, FutureFit AI
Across Europe, digitalisation, technological innovation (including AI), and the green transition are reshaping the nature of work and the demand for skills. By 2030, Europe could require 12 million occupation transitions, double the pre-pandemic pace.[1] Governments and public employment service providers face critical challenges in creating accessible, dynamic pathways for job seekers to navigate this evolving landscape. In response, the European Round Table for Industry launched the Reskilling 4 Employment (R4E) initiative in 2020 to facilitate large-scale reskilling for unemployed and at-risk workers.
Disjointed systems, lack of information for job seekers to differentiate between training programmes and reskilling, and hesitancy to hire reskilled talent are common issues across the European workforce ecosystem. Recognising these challenges, R4E adopts a collaborative, employer-led approach to realign the reskilling value chain with industry needs. Today, R4E is making its most ambitious move yet by introducing the New Career Network (NCN) — a comprehensive digital ecosystem designed to scale the reskilling journey, seamlessly connecting candidates to curated programs and top employers.
The NCN will link job seekers across Europe to a curated catalogue of reskilling providers with proven employment outcomes, and after reskilling to employers committed to exploring alternative talent sources to bridge critical skills gaps. The NCN will leverage AI-driven workforce development technology powered by FutureFit AI to provide tailored career guidance matching individuals with relevant opportunities based on their skills, including curated reskilling programs and ready-to-hire employers.
In partnership with FutureFit AI—a global workforce development technology company building AI-powered solutions to connect talent, skills, and opportunities at scale—R4E is committed to transforming reskilling in Europe to have an impact at scale through the NCN. To achieve these ambitious goals, R4E has built the NCN on two foundational pillars:
- Tackling the Skills Gap with Precision – Skills gaps are prevalent across many industries. The NCN leverages FutureFit AI’s Pathways Platform to offer personalised career guidance specifically oriented around these gaps. With its AI-driven approach, the NCN can quickly adapt to changing market needs, provide real-time insights to both job seekers and employers and remain dynamic in an ever-evolving landscape.
- Building Trust and Collaboration – Trust is crucial for the success of any employment initiative. The NCN drives transparency and reliability by offering curated reskilling programs designed to meet specific industry requirements, ensuring that job seekers receive relevant training aligned with employer needs. By uniting stakeholders, including reskilling providers, employers, and job seekers, the NCN fosters a collaborative environment that enhances employment outcomes.
With the piloting of the NCN, we hope to create a step change in the reskilling ecosystem and opportunities across Europe, to address reskilling and upskilling challenges across Europe. By leveraging FutureFit AI’s AI-powered workforce technology, fostering deep public-private collaboration, and providing comprehensive support, the NCN is set to transform the lives of job seekers and strengthen the broader economy. As the NCN scales its impact, it will serve as a model for innovative workforce solutions, showcasing the power of technology and collaboration to drive economic mobility and resilience in an ever-evolving job market.
[1]https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/a-new-future-of-work-the-race-to-deploy-ai-and-raise-skills-in-europe-and-beyond