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ESCO needs to be continuously improved to remain an added value for the labour market and the education and training systems, as new emerging occupations and skills are regularly requested by employers and changes in curricula and in terminology are also regularly introduced in education and training programmes.  To address these changes it is important to share frequently feedback, suggestions and proposals on how to improve the content and management of the classification with organisations using ESCO and other ESCO stakeholders. 

 

ESCO v1

ESCO v1 was a landmark release, representing the first full-scale version of the ESCO classification system. Launched in mid-2017, it marked a pivotal step forward in providing a comprehensive framework for navigating the complexities of the labour market and education systems. Diverging from previous ESCO versions, which used versioning numbers starting with 0 (zero), ESCO v1 signifies a shift. It is not merely recommended for piloting and testing but is also intended for integration into production systems that deliver essential services to end users. This difference highlights the maturity and reliability of ESCO v1 as a core resource for various applications. Furthermore, ESCO v1 introduces a versioning mechanism designed to track changes systematically within the classification system. This mechanism ensures transparency and accountability, allowing stakeholders to stay informed about updates and modifications as ESCO evolves over time. Find out more here about ESCO V1 and its minor versions.

 

ESCO v1.1

In January 2022, the Commission launched new ESCO major version 1.1, marking the culmination of a comprehensive two-year review process. ESCO v1.1 includes the refinement of existing concepts and the introduction of new occupational and skills profiles. Notable features of ESCO v1.1 include:

  1. Expansion of content: ESCO v1.1 introduces 68 new occupations, 354 additional skills, and 158 new knowledge concepts, translated into all ESCO languages.
  2. Enhanced Transversal Skills Hierarchy: A revamped structure and terminology for transversal skills and competences have been incorporated into ESCO v1.1.
  3. Labels for Green, DigComp, and Research skills: ESCO v1.1 facilitates access to subsets of skill and knowledge concepts, including those relevant to the green transition, digital competencies, and research skills. 
  4. Quality improvements: Over 500 terms have been updated in ESCO v1.1, ranging from the elimination of duplicate concepts to the clarification of relationships between different elements.

ESCO v1.1 was officially presented during an online webinar in February 2022, with the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, acknowledging the contributions of ESCO stakeholders in a video message. Learn more about the ESCO v1.1 launch webinar

 

ESCO v1.1.1 (minor update)

Subsequently, in September 2022, the Commission released ESCO v1.1.1, a minor update focused on maintaining the database's quality and enhancing its usability. Key improvements in ESCO v1.1.1 include:

  1. Updated Translations: Translation revisions across all EU languages, including Icelandic, Norwegian, and Ukrainian, aimed at improving multilingual accessibility.
  2. Refined Skills Hierarchy: Feedback-driven adjustments to the skills/competences hierarchy structure
  3. Digital Skills Labeling: ESCO v1.1.1 introduces a comprehensive dataset of over 1,200 digital competences concepts, extending beyond DigComp skills, through a combination of machine learning and human-driven labeling.
  4. Improved Mapping to ISCO-08: Enhanced mapping of ESCO occupations to the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08).
  5. New relationships between skills and occupations: Introduction of over 200 new linkages between skills, knowledge terms, and occupation concepts.

 

 

Supporting documentation for all versions of ESCO are accessible through the ESCO portal, including updated classifications, supporting reports, and API access. You can download all ESCO version here. By continually evolving and updating ESCO, stakeholders can ensure its ongoing effectiveness as a foundational resource for navigating the complexities of the modern labour market and education landscape.