Linking the Future of Work to Youth Empowerment
Youth unemployment and skills mismatches are growing. How the EU co-funded EASY project builds future-ready skills for young people in rural and marginalised communities.
The EU faces high youth unemployment, intensified by the pandemic, rapid digital transformation, inflation and geopolitical tensions near its borders. The result is a skills mismatch: companies struggle to find people with the right qualifications, while young people struggle to find decent jobs that match their skills and goals.
The Emerging Advanced Skills Youth (EASY) project responds to this challenge. It follows the World Economic Forum’s future-of-work recommendations — especially its Top 10 Skills for 2025 — and is aligned with the European Year of Skills.
About the project
EASY is a comprehensive upskilling programme designed to give thousands of young people in-demand skills for stable, fulfilling work. It identifies, develops and puts to use emerging skills, closing the gap between what young people can do and what the job market needs — with youth employability as its central priority.
Project objectives
- Overcome the skills mismatch — align training with current and future labour-market needs.
- Increase youth employability — build lasting skills and capacities that go beyond the immediate job, so young people can adapt in changing workplaces.
- Empower disadvantaged youth — support the social and economic inclusion of young people from rural and marginalised communities, improving their prospects and their communities’ development.
Built on the WEF Top 10 Skills for 2025
EASY’s curriculum and training modules are designed around the ten skills the WEF expects to be most in demand:
- Complex problem solving
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Creativity, originality and initiative
- Leadership and social influence
- Technology use, monitoring and control
- Technology design and programming
- Resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility
- Emotional intelligence
- Cultural competence
- Interpersonal skills
Conclusion
EASY is an important step against youth unemployment and the skills mismatch. By building on the WEF’s recommendations, it aims to empower young people and support economic and social growth in disadvantaged communities — a bridge between skills and opportunities across the EU. Follow the project’s news, results and outputs on the project website.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.