In the latest episode of PESPod, Spiros Protopsaltis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DYPA, the Greek Public Employment Service, and former First-Vice Chair of the European Network of Public Employment Services (PES Network) delves into the intricate landscape of the Network as it relates to the European Year of Skills and sheds light on key challenges and initiatives in Greece and beyond.

The latest PESPod episode explores persistent challenges faced by PES in Europe, including skills shortages and the transformative impact of the European Year of Skills, as well as how Greece is tackling the skills challenge and fostering a fair and inclusive labour market. Spiros Protopsaltis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greek Public Employment Service (DYPA), provides insights and navigates through critical issues, offering solutions and discussing promising strategic initiatives.

Spiros Protopsaltis underscored the transformative impact of the European Year of Skills, which runs until April 2024. He noted a surge in awareness and stressed the need for substantial investments in upskilling and reskilling programmes throughout Europe. According to him, there is an urgent need to bridge existing gaps and prepare the workforce for the demands of a rapidly changing job market.

He emphasised the positive impact of the European Year of Skills in Greece, which, coupled with significant resources from the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), has allowed Greece to undertake large-scale initiatives. These include the modernisation of vocational schools and a record-breaking upskilling and reskilling programme for the unemployed.

Protopsaltis points to a success story in Greece in upskilling on digital and green skills, noting this requires investment. “In one year, 220,000 unemployed persons have been trained and certified in digital or green skills. It's a massive programme funded with a billion EUR from the Recovery and Resilience Fund, and it has become our flagship initiative during this past year,” he said.

Protopsaltis also discussed Greece’s efforts in addressing a skills mismatch through a strategic emphasis on vocational education. He underscored the importance of aligning educational curricula with the dynamic needs of the job market to ensure a more harmonious integration of skilled people in the workforce.

DYPA faces challenges as it navigates the complexities of digitalisation, impending workforce retirements, and the need to adapt to unpredictable external shocks. Protopsaltis highlights the importance of modernising PES systems to effectively address these challenges.

In the podcast, Protopsaltis advocated for the enhancement of equal opportunities as a priority in workforce development. In order to achieve this, he stressed the need to provide broader access and increased mobility to address restrictions on career pathways.

Protopsaltis’s insights highlight the importance of adaptability, strategic investments, and training for the PES Network. He underlined the need for attitudinal changes towards vocational education and training to address skill mismatches effectively in order to meet the labour market demands of the future.

Download and listen to the 20th episode of PESPod wherever you listen to your podcasts including:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Player FM

If you have any comments about this episode of PESPod or relevant topics for future episodes, write to us at: EMPL-PES-SECRETARIAT@ec.europa.eu.