Skills Forecasting Platform

The main purpose of the platform is to develop a system for predicting skill needs and identifying competence gaps in the labour market in the short, medium and long term.

The implementation of the project is based on a partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MoLFSA).

Project objectives and results

Thanks to the SFP project, the Skills Forecasting Platform will play a crucial role in anticipating future challenges and significant changes in the labour market. We will face these challenges as a result of the increasing and accelerating introduction of new technologies, digitalisation, automation, robotics and other forms of work.

The long-term effects of the SFP will be demonstrated through a better alignment of labour market supply and demand, a reduction in structural imbalances, and an increase in the skills levels of the Slovenian population.
 

Implementation of activities

All of our activities are aimed at laying the groundwork for our role as a stakeholder in the future Skills Forecasting Platform.

In 2022, we developed two functional specifications – one for the job vacancy search engine and another for searching and matching job vacancies with jobseeker profiles.

We have contributed to the upgrade of the Employment Forecast survey by including additional questions for employers to predict the competences necessary for employment in a particular occupation. The obtained data can be used in an agreed format to display various information on the platform.

We also took part in the Occupational Barometer, a source of data on short-term labour market needs, which forecasts shortage and surplus occupations to meet the needs of different stakeholders in the labour market. 

In December 2022, we launched a new job vacancy search engine on the new ESS website, which includes an overview of job listings as well as short-term trends and forecasts. This was made possible through the use of data obtained from the Employment Forecast and the Occupational Barometer, which we were able to provide for the first time in 2022.

Our activities in 2022 were also focused on collaboration in reviewing ESCO competences in relation to the standard classification of occupations (SKP-08). As per the EURES Regulation 2016/589/EU, we have committed to using ESCO that is linked to the national classification of occupations (SKP-08). By adopting ESCO occupations and competences, we have integrated them into our system. We will utilise these competences to enhance our services and streamline our work processes, especially in relation to matching labour market supply and demand based on competences.

In order to upgrade our skills and competences to achieve our project objectives and promote the exchange of good practices with stakeholders, we participated in seminars and workshops related to the content of the SFP project.

Project implementation and financing

The SFP project will be implemented from 1 August 2021 to 30 June 2023 by:

• Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MDDSZ), where the Skills Forecasting Platform will be put in place (as a systemic result of the project) – as the beneficiary,
• Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia – as the partner (beneficiary of the MDDSZ). 
   

The SFP project, worth EUR 462,203.60, is financed by:

• the European Union from the European Social Fund (80%) and
• the Republic of Slovenia from the Slovenian budget (20%).

It is implemented under the Operational Programme for the Implementation of the European Cohesion Policy 2014–2020:

• Priority Axis 10 – Knowledge, skills and lifelong learning to enhance employability, 
• Investment priority 10.1. Enhancing equal access to lifelong learning for all age groups in formal, non-formal and informal settings, upgrading the knowledge, skills and competences of the workforce, and promoting flexible learning pathways, including through career guidance and validation of acquired competences, 
• Specific objective 10.1.2. Improving the competences of employees to reduce discrepancies between their skills and the needs of the labour market. 

For more information on cohesion policy in Slovenia and the EU: www.eu-skladi.si.