Transversal skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and learning skills are essential for work, education and daily life. Developing and recognising these skills play an important role in promoting sustainable economic growth, social inclusion, and competitiveness. The EU supports employers, workers and training institutions in advancing these skills.
The situation
Human creativity, emotional intelligence and innovation remain irreplaceable, even if:
14% of jobs are highly automatable
32% of jobs might change substantially due to AI within this decade
Both workers and employers value transversal skills that help to adapt the changing work landscape, particularly in the green and digital transitions.
24.5% of candidates lack transversal skills.
EU funding available
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) provides funding for projects typically responding to labour market needs, which are often relevant to transversal skills.
Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) provides funding opportunities for the development of transversal skills associated with the green and digital transition.
The Erasmus+ programme provides the opportunity to develop key competences and transversal skills, through study, work, or volunteering experiences abroad.
Horizon Europe provides funding for projects that promote the development of transversal skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving.