Page 19 - Learning-while-working-Success-stories-on-workplace-learning-in-Europe

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2010b). Knowledge and skills intensive jobs, such as managers, professionals
and technicians, are expected to grow in the next decade, and in 2020 have
a share of more than 42% of total employment (Cedefop, 2010a). This trend
has profound implications for vulnerable groups and people facing multiple
barriers to employment. However, it would be illusory to believe that every
job requires a higher level or new skills. The polarisation of the labour market,
with knowledge-intensive highly skilled jobs, on the one hand, and more
repetitive and unskilled jobs on the other, appears increasingly to characterise
our economies (Eurofound, 2008b; Cedefop, 2008a). To be in a relatively
safe position, individuals are required to be adaptable and preferably highly
skilled. This does not mean that there would no longer be a demand for
lower qualified workers but they are more likely to be hired in less stable
segments of the labour market, occupying more precarious jobs, in worse-off
industries or sectors (Cedefop, 2006). Nonetheless, it should be remembered
that high levels of replacement demand mean that a significant number of
low skill job opportunities will still remain in the future. Making projections on
skills and jobs in a period of economic crisis is a challenging exercise, since
the return to employment levels prior to the economic turndown may take
several years (Council of the European Union, 2010). The actual number
of jobs created will depend on the global economic environment and the
current economic downturn makes pessimistic scenarios most probable.
Some jobs will not be restored, some skills will become obsolete, some
qualifications may be superseded; many industries, sectors and occupations
could be experiencing restructuring on a massive scale. It might be difficult
also for those qualified at higher and medium level to find jobs that match
their qualifications, being forced to accept jobs that used to require lower
skill levels. Cedefop forecasts indicate an emerging gap between the supply
and demand for skilled people, as well as an increase in the proportion of
workers who are overqualified for their current jobs (Cedefop, 2010a). These
findings indicate a misalignment between the numbers of skilled jobs and
skilled people, between the skills available and those that are in demand,
even more acutely in a recession period.
The crisis has engendered the risk of long-term unemployment in the coming
years and has reduced the labour market prospects of especially vulnerable
groups, such as young people, migrants and low-skilled workers (Council
of the European Union, 2010). The economic crisis inflicts policy dilemmas,
since unemployed individuals with higher qualifications may also need to
expand or acquire a new range of skills to take advantage of future economic
recovery. The economic and financial crisis has had a devastating effect on