Cedefop Urges Estonia to Sharpen OSKA Skills Forecasting System

Cedefop Urges Estonia to Sharpen OSKA Skills Forecasting System

The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) has published a report urging Estonia to make its OSKA skills forecasting system more agile, inclusive and policy-ready. The report, produced with the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research and the European Commission under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI), sets out six priority areas for the next phase of the system, which is coordinated by the Estonian Qualifications Authority (Kutsekoda).

Key facts

What is OSKA and why does it matter?

OSKA is Estonia's established system for monitoring the labour market and forecasting future skills needs. It is widely recognised as a strong example of evidence-based skills anticipation, combining quantitative and qualitative methods with structured stakeholder engagement. According to the report, OSKA has become a trusted resource for informing education and employment policy in Estonia.

The report's central message is that Estonia's challenge is no longer whether to invest in skills intelligence, but how to ensure that intelligence is used more effectively, reaches more users and keeps pace with change. Cedefop argues that the system's strong foundations now need to be built upon to make it more responsive to a fast-changing labour market. What are the six priority areas?

The first priority is improving the uptake of findings in policy and practice. The report says OSKA findings could be taken up more systematically, with better alignment of outputs to policymaking cycles, clearer identification of key users and delivery in forms that decision-makers can use.

The second area is strengthening data quality and integration. Estonia has a strong administrative data base, but there is scope to better connect education, employment and skills information. The report points to the potential of exploring new sources such as online job advertisements and CV data, while ensuring that new data are relevant, robust and interpretable.

The third priority is enhancing methods and timeliness. OSKA's long-term outlook remains valuable for understanding structural trends, but stakeholders also need shorter-term signals to respond to rapid shifts in labour market demand. A more agile mix of methods could help provide this.

The fourth area is broadening stakeholder engagement. While OSKA already benefits from strong institutional participation, the report sees potential for some groups, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), adult learning providers and learners, to play a more active role.

The fifth priority is developing a regional dimension. Even in a small country, skills needs are experienced locally, and more region-sensitive intelligence could better support providers, employers and policymakers responding to local labour market realities.

The sixth area is ensuring medium-term sustainability. For OSKA to continue evolving, the report says stable funding, clear governance and continued investment in analytical and dissemination capacity will be essential. How does this fit into EU skills policy?

The Estonian experience speaks directly to wider EU priorities. The European Skills Agenda, the Pact for Skills and the Union of Skills all stress the importance of robust skills intelligence to support more inclusive, adaptable and forward-looking education and training systems. Estonia's efforts show how a Member State can move from building a strong anticipation system to making it more agile, integrated and action-oriented.

For Cedefop, the work illustrates a broader point: effective skills governance depends not only on producing evidence, but on embedding that evidence in dialogue, institutions and policy decisions. As Estonia moves forward, the lessons from OSKA may prove valuable well beyond its borders, the agency says. What happens next?

The report is part of the TSI project launched in December 2024 and funded by the European Union, with implementation by Cedefop in cooperation with the European Commission. The six priority areas are intended to guide the next phase of OSKA's development and Estonia's wider skills governance system. Further steps will depend on how Estonian authorities and stakeholders take the recommendations forward.

Source: Cedefop

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