A new paper from the European Network of Public Employment Services (PES Network) presents the latest thinking and PES practices around new forms of skills assessment, recognition and validation (including via micro-credentials) and skills-based training. It calls for increased efforts by PES to coordinate with partners in building comprehensive and effective skills-based services.

The PES Network’s Thematic Paper on New forms of skills assessment and validation – impact on PES services and counselling takes stock of latest PES practices related to skills assessment, recognition and validation (including via micro-credentials) and skills-based training.

The thematic paper is a follow-up to the PES Network Seminar on New forms of skills assessments and validation that took place in February 2023. This highlighted that many PES are already undertaking efforts to develop, improve and modernise skills assessments, most notably in the area of digital skills assessments.

A key trend is the emerging shift from occupation-based approaches towards skills-based profiling, including job-related and ‘soft’ skills. There is also increasing recognition of the need for comprehensive multi-level skills assessments, including self-assessment (usually through online testing), interviews, professional testing, and practical assignments.

The paper highlights the need to improve the availability, accessibility and awareness of skills-based services – as well as establishing transparent procedures for data protection and sharing of personal data. In addition, more work is needed to better understand and exploit the potential of micro-credentials as a form of skills-based training, embedded in skills-based matching and profiling.

The paper also highlights the need for improved recognition of transferable skills acquired through non-formal and informal learning, often through work. To achieve this, it calls for enhanced skills-based taxonomies and services and increased cooperation of stakeholders in the skills ecosystem.