SOFT skills and customer-facing skills are becoming increasingly important, according to Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry.
He made the comments during an address to a European Employment Forum in Brussels recently, where he spoke on the issue of youth unemployment.
He said: “We are all facing the twin challenges of driving up skill levels to meet the demands of the modern, knowledge-based, global economy, and to maximise levels of participation in the labour market.
“Youth unemployment is much more of a challenge than ensuring that our citizens are given the opportunity to fully participate in society.
It is also a challenge to our competitiveness, in that we cannot afford for our young people to miss out on opportunities to consolidate their skills and training through the practical experience that comes from employment.
“Young people face these challenges against the backdrop of a fast-changing labour market across Europe. Skills needs have changed, with soft skills and customer- facing skills increasingly important.
It is also vital we enthuse and inspire our young people to study STEM courses.
“My department’s strategies, programmes and services ensure young people are given all the support necessary to make these transitions in life.
We also have to ensure that we are providing a range of pathways for young people into further and higher education and into work.
High level skills are critical for all of our economies, as are the creation of modern systems of apprenticeships and youth training.
“My top priority is to build the right opportunities for all our young people so that no young person is left behind.
All our young people must be supported on their career journey, with opportunities to provide them with the necessary skills and experience to gain jobs.”
During his two-day visit to Brussels, the minister also met with a range of stakeholders to discuss employment issues including Commissioner Andor, the EU’s commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, and senior commission education and culture and research officials.