TVETipedia Glossary

Skill mismatch

Skills mismatch is an encompassing term which refers to various types of imbalances between skills offered and skills needed in the world of work. ...

Vertical mismatch: The level of education or qualification is less or more than required.

Horizontal mismatch: The type/field of education or skills is inappropriate for the job.

Source:
ILO, Skills mismatch in Europe, 2014
ILO, Skills mismatch in Europe, 2014
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This brief is part of the efforts that the ILO Department of Statistics is undertaking to contribute to the statistical understanding and quantification of skills mismatch.The brief provides an overview of approaches to measure skills mismatch, and illustrates two approaches using data from the European Social Survey (ESS).

Situation of imbalance in which the level or type of skills available does not correspond to labour market needs.

Source:
CEDEFOP, Terminology of European education and training policy. 2nd edition. A selection of 130 key terms, 2014
CEDEFOP, Terminology of European education and training policy. 2nd edition. A selection of 130 key terms, 2014
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What is the difference between skill gap, skill needs or skill shortage? Is underqualification a synonym for undereducation or underskilling? What is the meaning of green skills?
This multilingual glossary defines 130 key terms used in European education and training policy. An extended and updated version of Terminology of European education and training policy (2008) and Terminology of vocational training policy (2004), it also takes into account new priorities of European Union policy, mainly in skills and competence needs analysis. New definitions have been developed with the cooperation of experts from Cedefop’s research and policy analysis team.

Situation of imbalance between the skills – and qualifications – possessed by the workforce (supply) and those needed by the labour market (demand).

Source:
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (accessed 03/2023)
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (accessed 03/2023)
Access resource, available in English, French, Italian
This multilingual glossary (provided in a multitude of European languages) defines a selection of key terms used in European education and training policy. It is a revised and expanded version of the “Terminology of European education and training policy – A selection of 130 key terms” (2014). It considers new priorities of European Union policy, mainly concerning skills intelligence and employment. New definitions have been developed in collaboration with the experts of Cedefop’s departments VET and Skills and VET and Qualifications.

A situation where there is a (qualitative) discrepancy between the qualifications and skills that individuals possess and those that are needed by the labour market.

Source:
CEDEFOP, Skill shortages and gaps in European enterprises, 2015
CEDEFOP, Skill shortages and gaps in European enterprises, 2015
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By exploring a wealth of available European data sources, the report attempts to single out the extent to which employers' general difficulties in recruitment can be truly attributed to skill shortages, as opposed to other possible factors. It also traces the evolution of skill shortages in EU Member states over time. Finally it scrutinises the critical role that organisations have in adressing not only the skill gaps of their present workforce but also those that may arise in the future due to skill obsolescence.