Digitalisation & World of Work Report

This 2nd edition shares new insights and input, lifting up the important questions and generating solutions. It eventually helps businesses, workers and policymakers boost a human centric digitalisation process in Europe.

The problems of attracting talent and its waste are not new. New is the speed of technological change increasing the skills gap and putting Europe’s global industrial competitiveness at risk.

To capitalise on the opportunities of digitalisation, education and learning must be rethought. Digital skills are a part of basic education, such as reading. Integrate it across all curricula and develop appropriate teaching methods with it.

Lifelong learning is central in keeping employability. Education and training systems should become more flexible and responsive.

One stakeholder alone will and cannot deliver on these ideas. Each partner doing its fair share is the way to go.

The combination of digitalisation and globalisation contributed to the rise new ways of organising work. These enable more autonomy and flexibility in terms of time and space. Being both benefit and need for employees and employers.

By consequence industrial relations systems and collective bargaining models are evolving too. Social partners are the best placed to agree on new solutions, shaping the future of work.

The autonomy to conclude tailor-made solutions must be respected by legislators. Excessive as well as inconsiderate regulatory interventions hamper the adoption of these solutions.

The industrial sector in Europe has become a safer place in the 21st century, largely due to companies investing in automation and digital technologies.

Improving Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at work even more, is possible. It requires a reflection on whether the current regulatory framework on OSH is fit for the digital era. How data collection and smart sensors can be used for meeting health and safety standards in real time and eventually improving them. And how collaborative robots and artificial intelligence can turn work environments into even safer places.

Data protection is a top priority in societies and economies where data are the new currency. Well-balanced, it will help to create business opportunities and growth.

Having now a European level playing field, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an advantage that should not be undermined. As any other piece of regulation, it must be practicable and not disproportionately bureaucratic.

National Data Protection Authorities and the European one-stop-shop must swiftly become fully operational to fulfil their role: increasing awareness and supporting citizens and companies on the requirements and benefits of GDPR.

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The full report is available on ceemet.org/digitalisation/