13th Annual NERI Labour Market Conference
2025-05-29 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Brussels)
The 13th Annual NERI Labour Market Conference in association with the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre will provide a forum for the presentation of research papers on labour market issues (North and South of Ireland & international).
The conference will take place in Ulster University, York Street, Belfast, BT15 1ED on Thursday 29th May 2025 from 10:00 – 17:00.
Our partner Elisa Staffa will participate in this conference with the paper ‘Empirical investigation of skill gaps in Europe’, developed under SkillsPULSE.
More information

SkillsPULSE Partnership Meeting in Lodz
2025-06-03 - 2025-06-04
The 4th Partnership Meeting of the SkillsPULSE Project will take place in Lodz on June 3-4, hosted by University of Lodz.

SkillsPULSE research seminar "Skills signals: leveraging online job vacancies and big data to identify skills shortages and gaps"
2025-06-04 14:00 - 17:00
This SkillsPULSE hybrid research seminar will take place on 4 June from 14:00 to 17:00 CET at the University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology (Poland).
The aim of the seminar it to discuss with stakeholders in Poland how online job vacancy data and other big data sources can be leveraged to detect skills shortages and gaps in the labour market.
Register here.

Meeting of the board of the European Public Employment Services
2025-06-05
SkillsPULSE will participate in the Board of the European Public Employment Services (PES) network next June 5 in Warsaw, Poland.
The Board of the European Public Employment Services (PES) network meets twice a year in the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The meeting addresses topics that relate to the activities of the employment services and to European policies in the context of the implementation of these policies by the employment services. The Board is also a forum for the exchange of experience and mutual learning.
Current topics under discussion are the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Skills Union, the development of the green and digital economy and the related demand for green and digital skills (in the context of European policy), the labour market situation, labour shortages, reforms of employment services implemented by countries, activation of people distant from the labour market and upgrading or retraining in line with labour market needs.
More information.

#EURegionsWeek 2025 "From insight to impact: leveraging data-driven approaches for smarter regional policy"
2025-10-14 09:30 - 11:00
This interactive session brings together four Horizon Europe projects, MOBI-TWIN Project, Re-Place EU Project, PREMIUM_EU and SkillsPULSE, to explore how different methodologies and tools – the Regional Attractiveness Index, the Local Human Development Index, the Regional Policy Dashboard and skills intelligence – can inform better policymaking.
Practical information
Date: Tue 14/10/2025, 09:30 – 11:00 CET
Location: Square Brussels, 213-215
Format: Interactive session
Theme: The Right to Stay: unlocking the potential of every territory
Language: English

AGENDA
09:30 – 09:35 | Welcome & Setting the Scene
Moderator: Terence Hogarth
– Welcome & structure of the session
– Brief framing: What does “the right to stay” mean in regional policymaking?
09:35 – 09:40 | CoR Framing Introduction
Markku Markkula/Taina Tukiainen
– Set the context from a policy perspective before the projects’ presentations.
– Highlight challenges and priorities for European regions.
09:40 – 09:50 | Framing Presentation: Four Projects, One Mission
Speaker: Anastasia Panori – Seamus McGuinness (TBC)
-This opening segment will set the stage for the session by looking at the common challenges European regions face, from demographic decline and brain drain to skills mismatches and mobility imbalances.
-Introduction to the core theme of the session: how data-driven tools and strategies can help regions understand their strengths, address gaps, and design policies that make them more attractive, inclusive, and future-ready.
09:50 – 10:30 | Breakout Labs – “Shape Your Region” (4 tables)
Participants split into 4 groups, each assigned one of the project approaches/tools.
10:30 – 10:55 | Group Feedback
– Facilitators share brief feedback from each table and facilitators offer a reflection from the perspective of the projects
10:55 – 10:55 | Policy Reflections
– Markku Markkula/Taina Tukiainen offers closing reflections and insights from a policymaker’s perspective
– Framing key questions going forward, example: – What can the EU do to support smarter use of these approaches? – How do we scale regional innovation in policymaking?
10:55 – 11:00 | Wrap-up & Next Steps
Moderator: Terence Hogarth
– Thank you & final remarks

More information and registration: https://regions-and-cities.europa.eu/programme/2025/sessions/48182

SkillsPULSE Policy roundtable on measuring and matching Europe’s skills
2025-10-14 14:00 - 16:00
Brussels, October 14th, 14:00-16:00.
The roundtable will discuss practical, comparable ways to spot skills gaps earlier and translate evidence into actionable policy choices for Member States and EU-level initiatives alike. The discussion will focus on research derived from the SkillsPULSE project.
Moderated by Prof. Terence Hogarth (University of Warwick). The roundtable will open with a policy framing from DG Employment and an overview of the SkillsPULSE project by Liga Baltina (Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini). This will be followed by a presentation of the project’s approach and early results from Seamus McGuinness (ESRI) and Łukasz Arendt (University of Łódź). The session will then move into a policy discussion with contributions from invited experts, providing an opportunity to exchange insights and perspectives on how skills data can better inform European policy and practice.

FGB Knowledge Apero - "Tackling Skills Shortages: Turning Data into Action"
2025-10-14 18:00 - 20:00
Mario Draghi’s report, the Future of European Competitiveness, succinctly set out the problem facing the European Union. It has one of the best skilled workforces in the world and invests vast amounts every year in the education and skills of its population, but this is not sufficiently reflected in its global economic competitiveness. Something must change.
Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini (FGB) Knowledge Apéro will start by scrutinising some of the usual skill-based explanations for the Europe’s current economic position – too many people qualified and experienced in things for which there is insufficient demand – but move beyond this to provide a more nuanced exploration of what may be really happening. Diagnosis and measurement need to precede prescription.
Speakers from four Horizon Europe projects – MOBI-TWIN, Re-Place EU, PREMIUM_EU and SkillsPULSE, – will share their approaches to diagnosing and measuring skill needs in Europe: from mapping workforce mobility and regional attractiveness, to measuring quality of life, modelling policy impacts, and developing innovative ways to match skills with emerging needs. This forms a basis for thinking about what needs to happen next. Each respective Horizon Europe project can contribute something novel to addressing this issue and, in doing so, make a positive contribution to the Union for Skills.
AGENDA
Opening words:

Liga Baltina, Head of Labour Market and Skills Research, FGB Brussels office

Introducing the theme and moderation:

Prof. Terence Hogarth, University of Warwick

Speakers :

Anastasia Panori, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Jennifer McGarrigle, University of Lisbon
Becky Arnold, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute
Lukasz Arendt, Lodz University, Poland

Knowledge Apéro is an after-work informal gathering with invited guests for sharing discussion and wine. Networks bring inspiration, multiplying the dimensions of value generated by individuals, institutions, and companies.
Registration required.

Date: 14th October, 18:00-20:00 CET
Location: FGB Brussels office. 19a Avenue Marnix

REGISTER HERE
Please note that FGB’s Brussels office is located in a historic building which regrettably has some architectural barriers – namely steps at the entrance and very small lifts – and is not fully accessible to persons with reduced mobility.
This event is part of the European Regions Week 2025 – Close to You initiative. The EURegionsWeek organisers do not process any participant data for these sessions, and are not responsible for their content.

SkillsPULSE Partnership Meeting in Athens
2025-12-02 - 2025-12-03
The 5th Partnership Meeting of the SkillsPULSE Project will take place in Athens on December 2-3, hosted by EKKE.

SkillsPULSE Workshop: How do institutions facilitate skills-matching processes within the Dual Transition context?
2025-12-03 14:30 - 17:00
The Workshop focuses on the Dual Transition, its implications for skills formation, and the challenges that institutions – across both the labour market and education sectors – need to address. We are pleased to confirm the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Labour, as well as the active involvement of institutes representing social partners and research organizations.
Location: IME GSEVEE – Small Enterprises’ Institute Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen, and Merchants, Aristotelous 46, Athens.

16th FGB Knowledge Apero "Making sense of skills intelligence: what is useful, usable, and worth acting on. The views of social partners"
2026-02-12 18:00 - 20:00
Skills shortages and emerging skills are central to today’s labour-market debates, yet the evidence behind these claims is often complex, fragmented, and interpreted in different ways. This informal networking event invites social partners to step back from solutions and reflect on how skills intelligence is understood, trusted, and used in practice.
Points for discussion:

Common misunderstandings around “skills shortages”
Which skills evidence is most (and least) trusted
Risks of over-reacting to “emerging skills” narratives
What makes skills data easier to question and contextualise
What better-functioning skills intelligence would mean in practice for employers and workers

Opening words:

Liga Baltina, Head of Labour Market and Skills Research, FGB Brussels office

Moderation:

Prof. Terence Hogarth, University of Warwick

Introducing the theme: Snapshots from Horizon funded project “SkillsPulse: Skills – Predicting, Understanding, and Locating Shortages in Europe”

Giulia Martorana and Marina Ferent, Researchers, Labour Market and Skills Research Unit, FGB Brussels office

Key interventions :

Tatjana Babrauskienė, Lithuanian education and science trade union
Beatrice Miano, World Employment Confederation
Sabina Casini, BDA – German Employers

Participation upon registration

Knowledge Apéro is an after-work informal gathering with invited guests for sharing discussion and wine. Networks bring inspiration, multiplying the dimensions of value generated by individuals, institutions, and companies.
Please note that FGB’s Brussels office is located in a historic building which regrettably has some architectural barriers – namely steps at the entrance and very small lifts – and is not fully accessible to persons with reduced mobility.

SkillsPULSE International Workshop "Understanding skill gaps: Employer experience, workplace drivers and practical responses"
2026-04-29 10:00 - 13:00
This international online workshop, organised within the SkillsPULSE project, will present key findings from the EU study on employers’ skills needs. It aims to highlight not only which skill gaps exist, but also why they arise within workplaces and how employers are responding in practice. Participants will gain insights from the online survey conducted in Poland, Italy, Greece, Finland and the UK.
Download the agenda here.

SkillsPULSE at the MOBI-TWIN's Final Conference at the Committee of the Regions
2026-05-04 09:30 - 17:00
Our project’s coordinator Liga Baltina, Head of Labour Market & Skills Research at Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini, will present SkillsPULSE at the MOBI-TWIN Final Conference.
“Mobility, Regional Attractiveness and Cohesion in Europe’s Twin Transition” is the title of the MOBI-TWIN project’s final conference, which will take place at the Committee of the Regions on May 4, from 9:30 to 17:00 CEST. This Horizon Europe conference will bring together policymakers, researchers, and regional stakeholders to explore how Europe’s green and digital transitions are reshaping mobility and regional development.
Building on evidence from the Horizon Europe MOBI-TWIN project, the conference will present new insights on mobility drivers, emerging regional disparities and future scenarios. Particular attention will be given to how different types of regions — including those facing population decline or talent outflows — are affected, and how these trends may reinforce or mitigate existing inequalities across Europe.
The conference will also focus on policy implications at EU, national and regional level. Through discussions with representatives from EU institutions, regional authorities and related initiatives, it will explore how data, tools and evidence can support more effective and place-based policy responses.
More information.

SkillsPULSE Workshop "Harnessing employer surveys for skills intelligence: Bridging employer insights and labour market intelligence towards addressing skills shortages"
2026-05-21 10:00 - 12:30
The aim of the workshop is to explore the insights gained from the main European employers’ surveys, and discuss how the evidence gathered is used to address skills shortages and gaps. The workshop will feature speakers from European agencies, leading European and national organisations and social partners.
The workshop will take place online on 21 May, 10:00-12:30 CEST.
AGENDA
10:00–10:10 Welcome and introduction
Liga Baltina, Project coordinator, Head of Labour Market and Skills Research, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini
10:10–10:30 SkillsPULSE employers survey: key findings and limitations
Martin Hayford, Project Manager and Analyst, University of Tartu
10:30–11:00 European Company Survey: methodological challenges and key findings
Gijs Van Houten, Eurofound
11:00–11:30 UK Employer Skills Survey: what works and what it tells us about skills gaps
Amy Clay, Department for Education, UK, and Mark Walsh, Skills England
11:30–12:20 Panel discussion
What works in practice? Employer engagement, response rates and use of survey evidence to address skills shortages
Moderator: Terence Hogarth, Professor, University of Warwick Institute for Employment Research
Panelists:
Nils Elofsson, Business Europe
Larisa Panait, Eurochambres
Mark Walsh, Skills England
Anabella Maroni, Unioncamere (Chambers of Commerce), Italy
12:20-12:30 Key takeaways and next steps
Martin Hayford, University of Tartu
Liga Baltina, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini

Joint Research Seminar on open job vacancy analysis
2026-05-26 10:00 - 12:30
Online, 26 May, 10:00-12:30 CEST.
This event will bring together different leading Horizon-funded projects working on skills gaps and shortages, to discuss methodological and data challenges in open job vacancy analysis and how web-based labour market intelligence can support skills policy development. The seminar will feature researchers from these projects as well as scene-setting presentations from EU institutions.

AGENDA
10:00 – 10:10 SCENE SETTING
Liga Baltina, Project coordinator, Head of Labour Market and Skills Research, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini
10:10 – 12:15 | SESSION MODERATED BY
Ewa Kusidel, Associate professor, Department of Spatial Econometrics, University of Lodz
10:10 – 11:00 LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN WEB-BASED MARKET INTELLIGENCE
– “European Web Intelligence Hub (WIH) OJA data: characteristics, limitations, potential, and future developments”. Fernando Reis, Big data statistician, European Commission
– “Using OJAs to detect occupations in imbalance”. Joanna Napierala, Expert in skills intelligence and foresight, Cedefop
11:00 – 12:15 METHODOLOGICAL AND DATA CHALLENGES IN OPEN JOB VACANCY ANALYSIS AND HOW RESULTS TRANSLATE INTO SKILLS POLICY
– SkillsPULSE Project
”Assessing Lightcast data for skills analysis”. Magdalena Brudz, Assistant professor, University of Lodz
”Measuring potential skill shortages with OJA data: strengths and challenges”. Elisa Staffa, Research Analyst, ESRI
– SkiLMeeT Project
“The Data Processing Pipeline for OJV – Methods and Challenges”. Najada Feimi, Data scientist, Liser.
– “Skill complementarity in Artificial Intelligence domain: evidence from Online Job Vacancies”. Irene Spada, Assistant professor, University of Pisa
12:15-12:25 KEY TAKEAWAYS
Simone Rosini, Socio-economic analyst, DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion of the European Commission
12:25-12:30 NEXT STEPS
Liga Baltina, Project coordinator, Head of Labour Market and Skills Research, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini

FGB Knowledge Apero: How countries respond to skills shortages: Insights from international skills intelligence systems and employer surveys
2026-06-10 18:00 - 20:00
This FGB Knowledge Apero will explore how Europe can better understand and respond to skills shortages and gaps, drawing on recent findings from the SkillsPULSE project.
The event will present two complementary strands of work: a survey of employers capturing their direct experience of skills shortages and gaps, and a mapping of national and regional institutional responses, including policies, programmes and initiatives designed to address them. Together, these findings offer insights into how skills shortages are experienced on the ground, how public institutions are responding, and where further action may be needed.
Following the presentations, invited discussants will reflect on the findings and bring additional perspectives to the debate. The discussion will address questions such as: What do employers’ experiences reveal about the nature and scale of skills shortages? How are national and regional institutions responding to these challenges? Which approaches appear most promising, and where are the gaps? And how can these insights help shape future policy and project work?
Knowledge Apéro is an after-work informal gathering with invited guests for sharing discussion and wine. Networks bring inspiration, multiplying the dimensions of value generated by individuals, institutions, and companies.

Location: Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini. Avenue Marnix, 19A. Brussels
Date: 10 June, 18:00-20:00 CEST.

PROGRAMME
Opening words:
Giancarlo Dente, Coordinator, Policy Evaluation and Human Capital Area of Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini
Key Interventions:
Anastasiia Pustovalova, University of Tartu
Outi Ruusuvirta- Uuksulainen, University of Jyväskylä
Moderator:
Terence Hogarth, Professor, University of Warwick Institute for Employment Research (IER)
Discussants:
Lars Ludolph, Labour Economist, OECD
Łukasz Arendt, European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Anastasiia Pustovalova, University of Tartu
Outi Ruusuvirta- Uuksulainen, University of Jyväskylä
Key Takeaways:
Terence Hogarth (IER)
REGISTER HERE
Please note that FGB’s Brussels office is located in a historic building which regrettably has some architectural barriers – namely steps at the entrance and very small lifts – and is not fully accessible to persons with reduced mobility.

SkillsPULSE Policy Roundtable: Employer and institutional insights on skills shortages and gaps
2026-06-11 10:00 - 12:00
Brussels, 11 June, 10:00-12:00 CEST.
This policy roundtable aims to bring together employer and institutional perspectives on skills shortages and gaps, combining evidence from the SkillsPULSE employer survey with insights from policy and practice. It will focus on discussing with EU-level stakeholders on what works in addressing skills mismatches, the conditions needed for successful interventions, and the priorities for action at both EU and national levels.

6th SkillsPULSE Partnership Meeting
2026-07-02 - 2026-07-03
Hosted by our partner University of Tartu, it will take place in Tallinn, Estonia. 2-3 July, 2026

SkillsPULSE Workshop "From data to decision: Stakeholder insights"
2026-07-03 09:30 - 12:00
Join us at Energy Discovery Center in Tallinn (Estonia) on July 3, where we will present the SkillsPULSE composite index and its accompanying software tool, developed in the framework of the project, to identify and benchmark potential future skill deficiencies across EU-27 countries over the 2015–2024 period.
The session will provide an overview of the index methodology, while focusing on practical aspects for end users, including the interpretation and visualisation of results, country benchmarking, and the policy relevance of the findings. Participants will explore how countries compare in terms of skills deficiencies in 2024 and how these patterns have evolved over time.
The workshop will also introduce the functionalities of the SkillsPULSE software tool and discuss how the index will be integrated into the platform. A dedicated feedback session with Estonian stakeholders will provide an opportunity to gather insights on user needs, methodological aspects, usability, interpretation of results, and potential policy implications.
PROGRAMME
9.30-9.45 Welcome and introduction

Martin Hayford, Project Manager and Analyst, University of Tartu

9.45-10.30 SkillsPULSE Presentation: Index and Software Tool + Q&A

Marina Ferent, Researcher, Labour Market and Skills Research Unit, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini
Vito Giordano, Assistant Professor, University of Pisa

10.30-11.00 Focus on End-User perspective + Q&A

Yngve Rosenblad, Chief Analyst, Kutsekoda

11.00-11.50 Feedback from Estonian stakeholders
Moderators:

Marina Ferent, Researcher, Labour Market and Skills Research Unit, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini
Vito Giordano, Assistant Professor, University of Pisa

11.50-12.00 Closing remarks

Martin Hayford, Project Manager and Analyst, University of Tartu

Thessaloniki International Fair
2026-09-05 - 2026-09-13
The SkillsPULSE project will be present at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) at the stand of our project partner EKKE (National Centre for Social Research).
The Thessaloniki International Fair is Greece’s largest and most prestigious trade fair, bringing together public institutions, businesses, research organisations, universities, and innovators from across Europe and beyond. It serves as a key platform for showcasing innovation, fostering collaboration, and discussing the major economic, technological, and societal challenges shaping the future.
More information.
