Why Managers Must Engage with DG EMPL’s Latest Tool
For years, policymakers and social partners have called for more strategic, coordinated action to bridge Europe’s skills gap. With the recent launch of an interactive indicators tool by the SKILLS team at DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), a new chapter is being written in evidence-based policymaking.
At CEC European Managers, we welcome this initiative as a timely and essential instrument to support Europe’s collective competitiveness, resilience, and social cohesion.
As the European social partner representing managerial staff, we believe managers play a crucial role in turning policy into impact.
But to do so, they need tools that provide visibility, insight, and guidance. The new Joint Assessment Framework tool offers just that — and more.
Making Skills Governance Tangible: Who is who
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) is responsible for EU policy on employment, social affairs, skills, labour mobility, inclusion, and the related EU funding programmes.
Roxana Mînzatu is the Executive VP and European Commissioner responsible for social rights and skills, quality jobs, and preparedness in the second von der Leyen Commission.
Working closely with Mînzatu is Mario Nava. He is the Director-General of DG Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion.
Nava met with CEC President Maxime Legrand, Deputy Secretary General Silvia Pugi, and Director Olga Molina in Brussels a few months ago to discuss the involvement of managers in EU policymaking.
You can read article about this meeting here [+]
DG EMPL launched the interactive tool as part of its effort to operationalise the Joint Assessment Framework (JAF).
The Joint Assessment Framework (JAF) framework collects and harmonises data on labour market performance, education, training systems, and social protection mechanisms across EU Member States.
The new tool aggregates these indicators in a user-friendly interface that enables policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to explore national and EU-wide trends over time.
Users can easily compare how different countries perform across various dimensions, including adult learning participation, NEET rates, skills mismatches, and digital readiness.
But what truly sets this tool apart is its potential to democratise data. For too long, detailed labour and education indicators were the exclusive domain of experts.
With this interface, non-specialist stakeholders — including managers — can interact meaningfully with the data, drawing insights to inform their strategies and investments.
A Strategic Ally for Managers
At CEC European Managers, we view the tool as a strategic ally for managerial leadership across sectors.
Leaders and managers are increasingly called upon to act as translators between macro policy goals and company-level implementation.
Whether it’s designing upskilling programmes, negotiating with social partners, or preparing a workforce for AI integration, managers need to understand where their country stands, where gaps exist, and what future trends demand.
For example, a manager in Spain might use the tool to identify how the country’s adult learning rate compares with peers in Northern Europe, highlighting the urgency for internal training initiatives.
An HR leader in Germany might examine gender gaps in STEM training to develop more inclusive recruitment policies.
A public-sector executive in Eastern Europe may identify a regional gap in green skills and advocate for EU funding to enhance vocational education.
Moreover, with its alignment to broader EU strategies — including the European Pillar of Social Rights and the EU Skills Agenda — the tool helps managers ensure that their actions support not only business goals but also societal objectives.
This is the kind of integrated and cross-sectoral thinking CEC European Managers champions across Europe.
Managers must be recognised as key agents of transformation. We do not just oversee operations; we shape culture, implement innovation, and mediate between strategy and execution.
Tools like this one from DG EMPL empower leaders and managers to fulfil that role more effectively.
In our upcoming activities — from policy dialogues and social partner negotiations to national-level roundtables — we will promote the uptake of this tool across our member organisations.
We will also call on the European Commission to ensure it remains updated, accessible, and integrated into funding frameworks such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+.
Explore the DG EMPL SKILLS Interactive Tool:
Interactive Indicators Tool – Joint Assessment Framework (JAF)
