Research Areas

This project aims to expand the knowledge available on the core labor competencies or skills of the Spanish adult population over a ten-year period (2012-2022), comparing it to that of other countries. The analysis focuses on the relationship between these competencies and people’s educational level, as well as other adult characteristics, such as age and work status. In addition, the prevalence and consequences of skills mismatch (i.e., the gap between a worker’s skills and those required for the job) across different sectors of activity and professions are studied, assessing its impact on wages and job opportunities.

The project has a mainly empirical methodology and is based on recently available data sources, such as the 2nd cycle of OECD’s PIAAC Project and the European Commission’s ESCO classification. Likewise, microdata labor surveys will be used from Spanish (Spanish Labour Force Survey [EPA] and Quadrennial Salary Structure Survey [EES]) and European (EU Labour Force Survey [LFS] and Structure of Earnings Survey [SES]) sources.