Opinion by Sebastian Meyer, Education Lead at 28DIGITAL

I often hear people talk about the “skills gap” in Europe. But the more I work on this topic, the more I think that’s only part of the story. 

In my view, the real issue is not that we lack skills, it’s that we lack visibility of them.  

Across Europe, there is no shortage of data. Universities publish learning opportunities, companies define job requirements, and individuals build up skills throughout their careers. The problem is that this information sits in disconnected systems, using different formats, standards, and languages. 

Working at 28DIGITAL, a big part of my role is focused on education, particularly on our Master School Programmes that help students develop advanced digital and entrepreneurial skills. Through this work, I see firsthand how difficult it can be to align what we teach with what is actually needed in the labour market. Not because companies aren’t clear about what they want, but because the information comes in fragments: job descriptions, industry reports, conversations with partners.   

At the same time, students are trying to make informed decisions about their future with even less visibility. 

So for me, this is not only a shortage problem. It’s a connection problem. That’s why the idea of a European Data Space for Skills is so compelling. Not because it introduces something entirely new, but because it tries to fix something quite fundamental: how we connect what already exists. 

And when you start to look at the use cases, the potential becomes very tangible:  

In higher education, learning opportunities can be shared automatically across institutions, reducing manual work and making it much easier for students to discover options across Europe.  

In the labour market, data-driven services can analyse job offers, training programmes, and individual profiles to suggest personalised learning pathways that actually reflect real demand. 

These are not abstract ideas. They are practical improvements that could make a real difference for people and for organisations, including ours, that are actively training the next generation of digital talent. 

At the same time, I think there is a risk in how we approach this topic. 

A lot of the conversation still focuses on technology, platforms, connectors and AI. Of course, these are important. But I don’t believe they are the hardest part. The harder challenge is trust.  

Skills data is personal. It shapes opportunities, careers, and life choices. If people don’t feel confident about how their data is used, they simply won’t engage. And without that engagement, even the best technical solution will fall short. 

That’s why I believe a human-centric approach is essential. Not as a principle on paper, but as something that genuinely shapes how these systems are designed and governed. 

For me, the key question is not whether we can build a skills data space. It’s whether we can build one that people actually trust and use. 

Because in the end, Europe doesn’t need more data. It needs data that works for people. 

✍️ Author: Sebastian Mayer (28 Digital)

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