‘Invest in skills’, report recommends

Europe must invest in lifelong learning to achieve continued economic growth, a European Commission report has warned.

“Major” spending on skills for young and older people will be needed to ensure Europe’s future prosperity, according to the 2017 Employment and Social Developments in Europe annual report, which was published by the Commission on 17 July.

The EU’s economy and employment rates are improving, but future increases in the average age of Europe’s population will undermine this progress unless policymakers take action, the report said. Although more and more young people are in work, there are increasing concerns that they will be worse off than their parents.