Adapting to Changing Skills: Skills requirements, Reskilling and Upskilling in Serbia - Findings and Policy Implications

The workshop aims to present and discuss evidence related to current workplace skills requirements and strategies of adult population in terms of education and training in Serbia. The workshop aims to delve into existing evidence on skills demand, utilisation and adult participation in education and training, focusing on how these findings can inform policy priorities and the national policy agenda.

The workshop targets key policy makers responsible for labour market, education and training policies. The workshop will spotlight recent findings from the 2023 European Skills and Jobs survey (ESJS)[1], conducted by ETF in several Western Balkan economies, including Serbia. This survey, developed by CEDEFOP and implemented in 2014 and 2021 in the EU Member States, examines job-skill requirements, skill mismatches, and adult participation in further education and training, including labour market outcomes like wages and job satisfaction.

In the context of Western Balkan economies, the ESJS findings are particularly important following the European Commission's adoption of a new Growth Plan in November 2023. This plan supports economic growth, socio-economic convergence, and human capital development in the region. Additionally, the survey provides insights into the challenges faced by younger workers in skill matching and utilization, informing efforts to reform education, training, and employment policies under the Youth Guarantee framewor