The newly published Skills Panorama Report provides a data-driven assessment of where the sector stands today. The findings highlight four key areas requiring the attention of both practitioners and policymakers:
The Digital Divide
A widening gap between digitally integrated practices and those operating offline isolates highly skilled makers. In countries like Belgium, where 95.9% of the sector consists of micro-enterprises, a lack of digital infrastructure severely limits access to broader economic opportunities.
The Business Imbalance
The data confirms a persistent imbalance in professional training. While makers rate their confidence in manual techniques at 4 or 5 out of 5, proficiency in financial management, pricing, and intellectual property frequently drops to 1 or 2.
The Demographic Reality
The transmission of knowledge is an urgent economic necessity. In Spain, over 60% of craftspeople are now over the age of 50. In Italy, more than a third of firm leaders fall into this demographic, highlighting a tangible risk of skill loss as master artisans retire without successors.
The Sustainability Gap
While makers intuitively use natural materials, there is a clear need for fluency in lifecycle assessments. As EU regulations like the Digital Product Passport approach, empirical sustainability data will become essential for accessing high-end supply chains.
Ultimately, the future of the sector relies on hybrid profiles. The market increasingly requires practitioners who combine traditional material mastery with digital fluency and a rigorous understanding of ecological frameworks.
The report is part of the Reskilling Crafts (2025–2027) project co-funded by the European Union. Consortium partners include FOACAL (Spain), Infodef (Belgium), Mad’in Europe (Belgium), Fondazione per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione (Italy), Artex (Italy), Innoquality Systems Limited (Ireland), Istanbul Province (Turkey), Cyprus Handicraft Service (Cyprus), and ECA (Belgium).
photo: Reskilling Crafts