Assessing the Supply and Demand for Scientists and Technologists in Europe

Europe's prosperity is at risk if its supply of graduate science and technology skills does not meet market needs, according to this report.

Research across the EU for the European Commission, by IES, revealed selective shortages in particular skills such as IT, and under-utilization of other, expensively developed skills such as life sciences and some areas of engineering.

However, the research revealed fundamental problems in the available data about the supply and demand of these skills, which are central to the economic performance of Europe.

The report was based on research funded by the EC and undertaken over the period 1997-99.

The IES research was undertaken in collaboration with ROA, the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market, in the Netherlands, and included a detailed review of the national and international data sources.

The researchers contacted 100 European experts and 210 research and development establishments across Europe, and created a pilot econometric model.

It forms part of an ongoing IES research programme relating to the highly skilled.