SKILLS IN TRANSITION

Abstract

Europe faces considerable challenges in obtaining a labour force with an educational profile that meets the demands, where scholars argue that the world is currently experiencing a fourth industrial revolution, characterised by rapid technological advancements. Simultaneously, skills development has become an important priority for the EU, with substantial resources directed towards policies in the area. This thesis constitutes a comparative case study between Sweden and Denmark. In these two countries, unemployment levels have increased in recent years, while the average unemployment level in the EU has decreased. Despite rising unemployment levels in Sweden and Denmark, employer organisations address challenges for employers to find workers with the right skills. This thesis aims to investigate how Swedish and Danish employer organisations work with skills development, and how this aligns with goals at the EU and national level. The empirical data is gathered through interviews with representatives from employer organisations, complemented with written sources. The analysis employs the theory of development blocks, exploring areas of institutional coordination, opportunities or necessities to adjust, and structural transformation, and contributes to the larger research field of skills development and labour market policies. The study finds that EU-policies are mainly viewed as complements, rather than drivers of structural transformation. Denmark demonstrates a more domestically and inward-focused approach, with little to no engagement with the EU-level, and is characterised by sector-specific negotiation and triparty-agreements. Sweden focuses more on the importance of systemic reforms and long-term strategic alignment with institutional actors, and demonstrates more engagement with the EU-level.