TRAILS Partners Meet in Amsterdam to Advance Skills Intelligence and Labour Market Research
11/05/2026
The fifth plenary meeting of the TRAILS Project took place on 8 May 2026 in Amsterdam, hosted by SkillLab. The meeting gathered project partners both onsite and online to review project progress, discuss upcoming deliverables, and coordinate the final phase of implementation.
As the project enters its final months, partners reflected on the achievements accomplished over the past three years and exchanged views on how TRAILS research results can be further translated into meaningful policy recommendations addressing skills mismatches and labour market transitions across Europe.
The meeting opened with a comprehensive overview of the project’s progress. Partners reviewed ongoing milestones, deliverables, dissemination activities, and preparations for the upcoming TRAILS conference, which will take place in Naples in September 2026.
One of the key highlights discussed was the implementation of the TRAILS surveys, which now cover 31 countries and provide extensive data on skills mismatches, literacy levels, labour market resilience, and training choices. Partners also shared updates on the second survey currently underway, focusing on dynamic skills measurement and policy-oriented conjoint experiments.
The consortium further explored ongoing experimental activities developed together with SkillLab and EARLALL regional partners in Sweden (City of Borås), Germany (Baden-Württemberg) and Italy (Tuscany Region). These experiments aim to analyse how documenting and showcasing individual skills portfolios can encourage participation in training opportunities and improve labour market mobility.
Discussions then focused on the relationship between educational mismatch, labour market outcomes, and the role of training in moderating these effects. Researchers presented ongoing work examining impacts on wages, job satisfaction, and job security across European labour markets.
Another important topic addressed during the meeting was the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Partners shared updates on innovative methodologies designed to improve the measurement of skills mismatches and support more efficient matching between workers’ skills and labour market needs.
Sessions dedicated to the growing importance of skills portfolios, labour market resilience, and inclusive skills policies. Discussions reinforced the need to adapt training systems to rapidly evolving skills demands and changing labour market structures.
EARLALL, as a leader, the dissemination and business planning, and for discussions on stakeholder engagement, communication activities, and policy outreach, supporting the project’s objective of strengthening the impact and visibility of TRAILS results across European regions.
The meeting concluded with discussions on next steps and preparations for the final project phase, including the upcoming conference in Naples, which will bring together researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the future of skills intelligence and labour market transitions in Europe.