The European Commission conducted research to find out what is hindering Europe’s younger generation from entering the workforce and improving national employment statistics. The study revealed that Europe’s youth is incognizant of basic IT and digital principles, and without these tech skills, the future of Europe’s economy is looking grim. 

The recession skewed employment rates in every country, and the U.S. was no exception. But the U.S., who Reuters (News - Alert) describes as Europe’s top economic rival, has significantly contributed to the rapidly-developing digitalized economy. Other countries have recognized the technology juncture, like China which is growing at an 8 percent annual rate, and there are European nations that Reuters highlights as being leaders in the digitalized global economy, like France, Germany, and Britain.

Still, analysts predict that the lack of IT skills present in Europe’s upcoming generation will compromise the future of the European market, even those of France, Germany, and Britain. Europe’s youth will not be able to match the number of jobs that will eventually open in order to sustain the growing rate of the market. The commission predicts that the number of jobs needing to be filled will reach 700,000 by 2015. Since unemployment rates in Spain and Greece are currently at 50 percent, the prediction of a significant void in the future digital workforce is not unfathomable.

Antonio Tajani, the European commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship said, "Young people need to appreciate the professional aspects of the new digital world… This is more important than ever in the current economic context. And it is crucial to increase creativity which will favor entrepreneurship and new start-ups."

Tajani explained, "Supply (of skilled workers) has become a bottleneck for growth in the tech sector, creating a leaky pipeline that threatens to hamper European innovation and global competitiveness.”

Tajani has propagated a program called “e-skills week” which the commission hopes will eradicate digital apathy.