Fast-paced developments in generative and physical artificial intelligence (AI) technologies promise widespread productivity gains and job growth across many economic sectors. However, productivity gains seen in specific tasks and among certain worker subgroups have not yet led to measurable and sustained macroeconomic gains for firms and economies. They also tend to be distributed unequally across different groups. This Cedefop conference aims to place this new ‘AI productivity challenge’ centre stage.
Drawing on research insights and stakeholder experience, the conference will focus on how AI skill shortages and gaps – a major barrier to AI adoption and diffusion within companies – can be addressed through targeted and well-designed upskilling and reskilling programmes. Alongside state-of-the-art research, case studies from firms and organisations in sectors affected by AI will be presented.
Skills and VET are central to Europe’s competitiveness and resilience. And this event contributes to that wider conversation through the European Skills & VET Week 2026.
Cedefop’s AI futures of work research programme examines how rapid advances in AI and related digital technologies are affecting skill demands and contributing to skill mismatches in EU labour markets. Cedefop’s 2024 AI skills survey, carried out as part of the programme, showed that while about 4 in 10 European adult workers see a need to further develop their knowledge and skills in using AI technologies, only about one in seven took part in AI-focused education or training during the 2023-24 period. In addition, 40% to 60% of adult workers appear to have a low level of AI literacy, namely an understanding of what AI is, how it works, and what its wider socioeconomic implications are.
There is therefore growing concern that AI skill shortages may already be constraining the EU’s transition to a competitive AI economy. Skill gaps may be made worse by the fact that AI adoption in workplaces tends to bring significant task reallocation within occupational profiles, reflecting a balance between task displacement and task creation, or ‘reinstatement’, effects.
To investigate these dynamics in depth, Cedefop has also been carrying out three dedicated AI sectoral foresight studies during 2024-26 in sectors of key importance to the competitiveness of the EU economy. Building on a combination of expert insights and broader stakeholder experience of the uptake of AI technologies, the research has highlighted that despite AI’s potential to transform organisational dynamics, using it productively requires a profound change in business strategy and working methods.
Event objectives
In this context, the main objectives of this Cedefop conference are to:
- learn from relevant research on the extent to which AI skill requirements are changing and skill mismatches persist, affecting European workers in their use of AI technology;
- understand the factors that create major productivity barriers when AI technology is adopted within EU firms and labour markets in general;
- explore and learn from good practices on how AI upskilling and reskilling programmes for young people and adult workers can be designed effectively;
- identify the types of workplace practices in EU firms that are required to support the design of targeted AI upskilling and reskilling programmes for young people and adult workers.
Register below to attend the event.
Event details
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