Reshaping the future of regional labour markets
As part of the European research project OVERLAP. Overlapping crises (re)shaping the future of regional labour markets, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini organised a stakeholder workshop, held online on 30 June 2025.
Funded through the European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion (ESPON) programme, the project is led by Prognos AG, in collaboration with the Centre for Microsimulation and Policy Analysis of the University of Essex and FGB.
OVERLAP features a unique combination of dynamic microsimulation and macro-modelling to assess labour market trends through to 2035, exploring how overlapping structural transitions – demographic, digital, and green – are shaping the future of regional labour markets across Europe.
Following earlier national workshops in Hungary, Poland, and Italy, held between March and June 2025, this workshop – the fourth and final one this year – brought together policymakers, researchers, and regional stakeholders to discuss preliminary projections and policy implications.
The session focused on Greece. During the event, an analysis was presented of how regional labour markets in the country are expected to evolve.
The findings revealed that demographic decline and ageing, particularly acute in smaller municipalities, demand localised, people-centred strategies, as well as better implementation of centrally designed policies.
With regard to female employment and lifelong learning, persistent challenges were noted, stemming from cultural norms, insufficient incentives, and under-resourced local systems.
To support resilience amid green and digital transitions, stakeholders called for targeted support for training and local entrepreneurship, underpinned by regionally tailored responses.
Participants also emphasised the need for greater policy coordination across governance levels, selective migration policies aligned with labour market needs, and stronger incentives for vocational training and active ageing.
