The United States - European Union Trade and Technology Council Talent for Growth Task Force has completed its work. Although the Task Force's activities, announced in December 2022, have come to an end, collaboration from the private sector continues.
According to a press release by the Department of Commerce, the Task Force was established to address challenges arising from rapid technological developments. The objective was to analyze the impact of these developments on workers and companies. The task force focused on four key areas: training workers to meet business needs; including women, youth, and underrepresented groups in technical jobs; using skills-based hiring; and upskilling through credentials, including micro-credentials. This approach enabled the task force to assess the risks inherent in the digital age.
"Skills are essential for us to succeed with our digital transition. And with the Talent for Growth Task Force, we have combined valuable experiences from Europe and the U.S. alike," said Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager. "Technology offers vast opportunities if we use it well, including for and by the workforce. Our cooperation has helped us learn and identify best practices on developing talents and skills needed for existing and emerging technologies and the opportunities it represents."
Both the United States and the European Union have been allocating larger portions of their budgets towards workforce development and technology assistance. The Task Force brought together government and private sector leaders to exchange best practices and serve as a catalyst for innovative skills approaches. The initiative was first announced by Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Dec. 5 2022.
"Through this Task Force over the last year, which included leaders in business, labor, education and government, we have put workers at the center of our efforts to ensure that technology benefits society," said Raimondo. "This Task Force wasn’t formed just to write a report; it was created with the intention of fostering an environment to learn from each other and from the best programs and systems in both the U.S. and Europe. I believe we achieved that goal and that we will all benefit from these efforts and research for many years to come."
