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TVETipedia glossary

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Skill obsolescence

en | fr | es

Acquired aptitude and knowledge for which there is little or no demand or which is out-of-date either through technological and scientific advances made in the equipment used, a marked change in job requirements or through the gradual disappearance of a trade or profession. Can usually be rectified by retraining or skill upgrading.

Source:
NCVER (Australia), VOCEDplus: Glossary of VET, (accessed 05/2026)


Skills previously used in a job are no longer required and/or skills have deteriorated over time.

Source:
ILO, Skills mismatch in Europe, 2014


(Economic skills obsolescence)

A situation where skills previously used in a job are no longer required or have diminished in importance.

Source:
Cedefop, Skill shortages and gaps in European enterprises, 2015


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