Conference on the Future of Skills and Jobs
Overview
Side event to the ELF General Assembly and LYMEC Congress, in collaboration with NEOS Lab.
Venue: Novum, Wiedner Hauptstraße 146-148, 1040 Vienna
Europe is entering a decisive decade defined by rapid technological change, demographic shifts and geopolitical pressures that are reshaping labour markets across the continent. Skills have become central to Europe’s economic resilience, social cohesion and long-term competitiveness. As AI, automation and the green transition transform entire professions, Europe faces labour shortages, ageing populations and persistent mismatches between education systems and labour-market needs.
The Conference on the Future of Skills and Jobs will explore the key levers for building a resilient European skills ecosystem. Participants will engage in three focused roundtables: Universal Basic Skills: The Foundation of a Resilient Society, addressing digital competence, media literacy and essential skills for 2035; Future Skills: Navigating Permanent Transformation, examining how AI reshapes technical and human skills; and Policy, Institutions & Liberal Responses, discussing how to design future-proof labour markets that support mobility, adaptability and equal opportunity.
The conference aims to generate insights that strengthen Europe’s capacity to adapt, innovate and ensure broad access to the skills that will shape its future.
Programme
13:00 Welcome coffee and registration
13:30 Welcome remarks
Alva Helga Pattart-Drexler, Executive director NEOS Lab, Vienna
Brigitte van den Berg, Member of the European Parliament, ELF Board member
Christoph Wiederkehr, Austrian Minister of Education, NEOS (tbc)
13:45 Introductions
Clemens Ableidinger, Senior Researcher NEOS Lab, Vienna
Maartje Schulz, Policy and Research Manager, ELF
14:00 World Cafés on the future of skills & jobs:
1. Universal Basic Skills: The Foundation of a Resilient Society (What are the truly universal skills required in 2035? What does "digital basic competence" mean? Should critical thinking and media literacy be treated as democratic infrastructure? What needs to change in our education system?)
Moderation:
Alexander Bari, Head of executive education, Vienna University of Economics and Business
2) Future Skills: Navigating Permanent Transformation (Which skills are likely to be replaced by AI - and which will be amplified? Are Future Skills primarily technical (AI, coding, data) - or fundamentally human (creativity, empathy, judgement)? How are career trajectories changing?)
Moderation:
Roderick Bloem, Institute of Information Security, University of Graz
3) Policy, Institutions & Liberal Responses: Designing the Future of Work (How can policy ensure equal access and mobility of skills without over-regulating markets? How can businesses be incentivized to invest in workforce development and labour inclusion to boost our competitiveness? Should social protection systems shift from protecting jobs to protecting transitions?)
Moderation:
Helga Pattart-Drexler, Executive director NEOS Lab, Vienna
15:15 Summary and Outlook
15:45 Closing Remarks and call to action
Ines Holzegger, Member of Parliament (NEOS)/LYMEC President
Alva Finn, Executive Director, European Liberal Forum16:00 End
16:00 End of event
The event is open to all Congress Delegates (Please plan your travel accordingly) and the public.
The event is organised by the European Liberal Forum. The event received financial support from the European Parliament. The sole liability remains with the organiser. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
