“SMEunited acknowledges the Union of Skills initiative’s ambition to tackle skill shortages across Europe. Ensuring that SMEs have access to a workforce equipped with the right skills is crucial for Europe’s competitiveness. The initiative marks an important step, but its success will depend on concrete measures that respond to the realities of SMEs”, stated Véronique Willems, SMEunited Secretary General.
SMEunited reminds that Vocational Education and Training (VET) plays a fundamental role to guarantee SMEs can hire the skilled workforce they need. However, its effectiveness continues to be hampered by persistent negative perceptions among families and young people. VET is often ignored as a career path, despite statistics showing that a large share of apprenticeship graduates secure stable employment faster and earn higher revenues than university graduates. To change this perception, SMEunited advocates for evidence-based public campaigns that objectively compare both career choices.
Additionally, SMEunited highlights training solutions should be tailored to the realities of SME employers. Entrepreneurs are not just business owners; they are also active workers who must constantly adapt to change. Training formats must be flexible and accessible to ensure that SME employers can upskill without disrupting their operations. Moreover, tailored trainings, mainly on-the-job-training must be provided for their employees. A culture of lifelong learning in the SME will create positive spillover effects on the entire economy.
Looking ahead, SMEunited calls for a collaborative approach between governments, educators, and businesses to ensure the Union of Skills effectively addresses SMEs’ challenges. Since the EU does not have direct competence in education policy, a strong partnership with Member States and social partners is essential. The initiative should facilitate bottom-up contributions, ensuring that skills development strategies align with the actual needs of SMEs.
