Addressing labour and skills shortages in Europe’s retail sector

This webinar is organised by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities and its OECD Trento Centre for Local Development.

This is the 3^rd workshop within the context of the project "The twin transition and the future of retail SMEs in urban and rural areas". The project supports the EU priorities of the twin digital and green transitions of retail SMEs, fostering a more innovative and competitive retail market. It aims to explore how retail SMEs, which account for a significant share of EU employment and are crucial to both urban and rural economies, manage these transitions in the context of wider challenges such as increasing market competition, labour shortages and the transformation of urban spaces. Key goals include expanding knowledge of transformation trends in the retail sector, analysing the spatial effects and identifying competitiveness-enhancing practices from across the EU and beyond.

The workshop addresses the labour and skills shortages that are increasingly affecting the European retail sector.

Preliminary findings from OECD research show how evolving skills needs, emerging occupations and digital recruitment practices – amid a shrinking working-age population and increasing competition for talent across sectors – are reshaping the retail employment landscape. The workshop will explore opportunities for public and private sector collaboration to improve the industry’s ability to attract and retain talent. Policy makers, social partners and other key stakeholders will discuss existing practices and reflect on actionable strategies.

The event is open to civil society and all those interested in the topic upon free registration.

The event is in English and will be recorded.

For more information, please contact:

Marco Bianchini, Economist and Co-ordinator of the Digital for SME Global Initiative, OECD |  Marco.Bianchini@oecd.org

Katerina Ciampi Stancova, Policy Analyst, OECD Trento Centre for Local Development | Katerina.CiampiStancova@oecd.org