Skills
Requested, scarce, urgent or emerging — each signal keeps its own source, sample and method.
A frequency in job ads, a gap in a questionnaire and a training need are different things. They are shown side by side, never added together.
Share of 312 job advertisements that mention each ESCO skill. Colour marks the skill category — click a bar for its country spread and the profiles that require it.
| # | Skill (ESCO) | Category | Job ads | Share | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Transversal skills | 96 | 30.8% | 11 |
| 2 | teamwork principles | Transversal skills | 92 | 29.5% | 10 |
| 3 | solve problems | Transversal skills | 62 | 19.9% | 9 |
| 4 | attend to detail | Transversal skills | 58 | 18.6% | 11 |
| 5 | conduct quality control analysis | Technical & vocational skills | 52 | 16.7% | 10 |
| 6 | communication | Transversal skills | 47 | 15.1% | 11 |
| 7 | think analytically | Transversal skills | 45 | 14.4% | 9 |
| 8 | use Microsoft Office | Digital skills | 39 | 12.5% | 9 |
| 9 | organise information, objects and resources | Transversal skills | 34 | 10.9% | 10 |
| 10 | textile technologies | Technical & vocational skills | 34 | 10.9% | 10 |
| 11 | adapt to change | Transversal skills | 32 | 10.3% | 10 |
| 12 | textile industry | Technical & vocational skills | 31 | 9.9% | 10 |
| 13 | cooperate with colleagues | Transversal skills | 27 | 8.7% | 9 |
| 14 | follow reporting procedures | Transversal skills | 23 | 7.4% | 4 |
| 15 | project management | Transversal skills | 23 | 7.4% | 10 |
| 16 | think proactively | Transversal skills | 23 | 7.4% | 8 |
| 17 | use spreadsheets software | Digital skills | 23 | 7.4% | 10 |
| 18 | lead others | Transversal skills | 22 | 7.1% | 8 |
| 19 | quality assurance methodologies | Technical & vocational skills | 21 | 6.7% | 10 |
| 20 | schedule production | Technical & vocational skills | 21 | 6.7% | 8 |
| 21 | control textile process | Technical & vocational skills | 20 | 6.4% | 10 |
| 22 | work independently | Transversal skills | 20 | 6.4% | 5 |
| 23 | create patterns for garments | Technical & vocational skills | 18 | 5.8% | 7 |
| 24 | oversee quality control | Technical & vocational skills | 18 | 5.8% | 8 |
| 25 | monitor machine operations | Technical & vocational skills | 17 | 5.4% | 6 |
| 26 | sew pieces of fabric | Technical & vocational skills | 17 | 5.4% | 8 |
| 27 | continuous improvement philosophies | Transversal skills | 16 | 5.1% | 7 |
| 28 | German | Transversal skills | 16 | 5.1% | 6 |
| 29 | manage a team | Transversal skills | 16 | 5.1% | 6 |
| 30 | textile materials | Technical & vocational skills | 15 | 4.8% | 8 |
Count of unique job advertisements. ESCO occupation match ≥ 0.70, skill match ≥ 0.80. Observed demand — not a measure of the whole European labour market.
A curated reading of the evidence. Each family shows the four lenses separately, with its base N and cycle.
Problem-solving is both demanded now and missing in the talent pipeline.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: textile technologist · textile quality manager · textile product developer · textile machine operator · textile, leather and footwear researcher
Teamwork is the most recurrent behavioural skill in TCLF job ads.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: textile technologist · textile quality technician · textile designer · textile machine operator · textile product developer
English appears in almost one third of the analysed job ads.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: textile technologist · textile product developer · textile quality manager · clothing technologist · sustainability manager
Adaptability connects operational resilience with continuous improvement.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: textile quality manager · textile machine operator · textile designer · textile, leather and footwear researcher · sewing machinist
Technical textile knowledge remains the backbone of emerging hybrid profiles.
Profiles that require it: textile technologist · textile machine operator · textile product developer · textile quality manager · textile quality technician
Quality skills form a bridge across technical, production and management roles.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: textile technologist · textile machine operator · textile quality technician · textile quality manager · textile product developer
The digital skills gap is rising while training coverage stays limited.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: textile technologist · sustainability manager · textile product developer · textile quality technician · agricultural inspector
AI is gaining perceived impact faster than other monitored technologies.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: textile technologist · sustainability manager · textile product developer
Digital design skills connect product development, patternmaking and design roles.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: clothing technologist · textile product developer · textile designer · clothing CAD patternmaker · fashion designer
Regulation is the strongest urgent training signal in the circularity survey.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: sustainability manager · textile quality manager · textile product developer
LCA and environmental footprinting are among the most urgent green learning needs.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: sustainability manager · textile quality technician · textile product developer
Traceability and the Digital Product Passport form a joint green-digital priority.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: sustainability manager · textile technologist · textile product developer
Circular production skills are moving from awareness to operational capability.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: sustainability manager · textile technologist · textile quality technician
Recyclability and preparation rank above specialised recycling processes.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: sustainability manager · textile machine operator · textile finishing machine operator
Leadership skills grow more relevant as technical roles become cross-functional.
No signal for this lens.
Profiles that require it: textile technologist · project manager · product development manager · textile designer · textile product developer