Frequently Asked Questions

EURES countries who are using the mapping platform since 10th February (release of ESCO v1.1), can keep their current mappings to ESCO v1.0 but they will also be able to map their national classification(s) to ESCO v1.1.

The Commission started a third pilot at the beginning of 2022 with the aim to improve the algorithm underlying the Linking learning outcomes with ESCO skills tool. Once the pilot is concluded and the robustness of the tool is satisfactory, the Commission will publish the tool via the ESCO portal.

Transversal skills are placed only in the Transversal skills hierarchy.

Links between transversal and non-transversal skills follow the broader/narrower relationship schema. You can consult them under each transversal skills in the Portal (for example here) or in the download files.

Number codes may be problematic to update, especially when one skill is reallocated in another skill group within the hierarchy. On the other hand, URIs are never edited, which makes such information more reliable over ESCO versions.

For any specific request, the ESCO team is available to provide tailored tables.

ESCO is aligned with existing EU competency frameworks such as DigComp, EntreComp, LifeComp in the sense that ESCO’s transversal skills model was developed taking into account these different frameworks. We are further exploring ways to create the tangible interoperability (through metadata) between these different competency frameworks at EU level and ESCO.

ESCO is aligned with existing EU competency frameworks such as DigComp, EntreComp, LifeComp in the sense that ESCO’s transversal skills model was developed taking into account these different frameworks. We are further exploring ways to create the tangible interoperability (through metadata) between these different competency frameworks at EU level and ESCO.

Due to their nature, transversal skills should not be linked to any occupation. With the release of v1.1 most of the links have been removed, while the links that are still existing in the classification will be removed in future updates.

As for the digital skills (aligned with DigComp framework), they are generally not assigned to occupations, but some derogations are possible. These links are expected to be reviewed in future updates of the classification.

In general, we recommend using only the links between occupations and the skills mapped in the current Skills hierarchy.

In accordance with the Commission Decision of 12 December 2011 on the reuse of Commission documents (2011/833/EU), the ESCO classification can be downloaded, used, reproduced and reused for any purpose and by any interested party free of charge. It may be linked with existing taxonomies or classifications for supplementing and mapping purposes. Any use is subject to the following conditions: 

1) The use of ESCO shall be acknowledged by publishing the statement below: 

• For services, tools and applications integrating totally or partially ESCO: "This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission." 

• For other documents such as studies, analyses or reports making use of ESCO: "This publication uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. 

2) Any modified or adapted version of ESCO must be clearly indicated as such. 

ESCO is intended to be a common language of skills and occupations, one of its goals being to ensure interoperability between services and to facilitate the exchange of information. For this reason, it is not recommended to modify the preferred terms and the descriptions of ESCO concepts, however, implementers have complete freedom of doing so, in order to meet their national/regional/local labour market needs. The information about modified concepts is very valuable for the improvement of ESCO, so implementers who do so are encouraged to share the eventual modifications. 

ESCO is an important tool for Public Employment Services. It provides a standard terminology that helps to understand the information contained in job vacancies, CVs and qualifications and thus easily exchange labour market information. ESCO facilitates the design of job vacancies and job profiles in different languages. Finally, ESCO enables IT systems to transform a jobseeker’s work experience and qualifications into a likely set of skills and competences. Based on this, it is possible to match jobseekers to job vacancies or employers to potential recruits more accurately and transparently.  

Employment Services around Europe are including ESCO in their systems, here’s a news article regarding Ireland’s implementation (https://ec.europa.eu/esco/portal/news/6e605a2e-0bcd-46f6-8cc6-5dce045ec407) and a testimonial video from Iceland (http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?ref=I162745).    

ESCO will support the automated skills-based matching of the EURES service platform. EURES is the network of European employment services which aims to provide information, advice and recruitment and placement services for workers and employers. 

Article 19 of the EURES Regulation and its Implementing Decisions adopted by the European Commission on 18 July 2018 provide for the use of a European classification of skills, competences and occupations (ESCO) with a view to developing an automated skills-based matching tool through the EURES portal. To enable successful implementation, Member States need to supply the job vacancies and CVs using ESCO codes defining occupations and skills. The deadline set for the mapping exercise is August 2021. Alternatively, Member States can decide to directly adopt ESCO. 

The approaches used by the Member States to carry out the mapping vary. These could be: 

• artificial intelligence tools; 

• “human” approach, i.e. experts in the Member States carry out the mapping exercise manually; 

• hybrid approach combing approaches one and two.