European results of PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2023

Are Europe’s workers ready for the skills revolution?

Woman looking up at building on busy city street
  • November 07, 2023
26%

Think the skills their job requires will change significantly in the next five years

30%

Say Green Skills will be very or extremely important to their career

34%

A third of employees say they have skills that are not clear from their qualifications, job history or job titles

2.5x

Those already in skilled jobs are 2.5 times more likely to say they know what skills they will need for the future

Europe’s Hopes and Fears Workforce Survey

PwC’s yearly Hopes and Fears Global Workforce Survey tracks the behaviours and attitudes of almost 54,000 employees across 46 countries. It asks a wide range of questions, from financial stability and likelihood to change jobs to trust in management, upskilling and attitudes to AI.  

The EU segment of the survey covers almost 16,000 workers from 14 member states, and provides a unique snapshot of their outlook. This year, European employees are more likely to change employers and ask for a pay rise, reflecting the stretching of personal finances. But they’re also less likely to feel they have skills that aren’t clear from their resume, and less aware than global peers about the key skills they will need for their future careers.

Download the EU insights or the Global Survey results

Key survey insights

  • European workers are financially stretched, more likely to move jobs and less aware of the skills they will need in their future careers. 
  • Only 36% of workers say they can pay their bills every month with money left over, down 7 points year on year.

  • 23% of respondents plan to change jobs in the next 12 months, up 6 points year-on-year. That rises to 38% among Gen Z.

  • More than a third have skills that are not clear from their qualifications, job history or job titles. A quarter feel they have missed out on opportunities because they don’t know the right people. 

  • Only 26% think that the skills their job requires will change significantly in the next 5 years, compared to 44% in APAC. 

  • EU workers are less confident that employers will train them in skills of the future. For example, they are 5-6 points less confident than US or APAC workers that their employer will provide opportunities to develop digital skills within the next five years.

  • Those already in specialised jobs are 2.5 times more likely to say they know what skills they will need for the future.

  • There are significant East-West differences within the EU, with greater job satisfaction and confidence in employers in Western Europe than in Central and Eastern Europe.

Highlights from the event

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3:31

Gilly Lord, Global Leader, Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs at PwC

James Morris, Director of Corporate Affairs at PwC 

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7:08

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5:19

Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights

Giulia Meschino, Director-General at the European Vocational Training Association

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2:34

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5:31

David Timis, Global Communications and Public Affairs Manager at non-profit Generation

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12:18

Bridging the digital divide | 12min 18sec

Watch our short documentary where academics, NGOs, policymakers and business leaders explain why upskilling for a digital world has become a priority for society, organisations and governments. It features EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit, PwC Chairman Bob Moritz and many others. To find out more about what we at PwC are doing, visit https://www.pwc.com/upskilling

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