EUSEEDS  /  RESEARCH INSIGHTS 

A new EUSEEDS study, drawing on 340 employer survey responses across five countries, reveals the skills employers are looking for, emerging occupations and opportunities to better prepare graduates for the workforce. 

As industries evolve and workplace expectations shift, an important question emerges: Are graduates equipped with the skills employers actually need? 

The EUSEEDS Multi-Country Skills Identification Study examined labor-market needs across Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. Drawing on 340 employer survey responses, alongside stakeholder interviews, desk reviews and sector validation, the study identifies key skills gaps, emerging occupations and workforce needs expected to shape employment over the next three to five years. 

The Skills Gap Goes Beyond Academic Knowledge 

One of the study’s central findings highlights a major challenge in graduate employability: academic qualifications alone are not enough. Practical, applied experience emerged as the most frequently cited graduate gap, while employers rated average graduate readiness at just 2.66 out of 5. 

These findings reinforce the importance of internships, employer-led projects and work-based learning that allow graduates to apply their knowledge and develop the skills needed in professional environments. 

AI and Digital Skills Are Reshaping Employment 

Digital transformation is changing workforce requirements across industries. According to the study, 60% of surveyed employers are already using or piloting artificial intelligence, highlighting the growing demand for digital capabilities beyond the technology sector. 

The study identifies three levels of AI competency that can inform future training programmes: 

• Foundational: AI literacy across professional sectors. 

• Intermediate: Analytics, prompt engineering and human-AI workflows. 

• Advanced: AI engineering, cloud technologies and cybersecurity. 

Several occupations are also showing current shortages or expected growth across the five markets, including Data Scientists, AI and Machine Learning Engineers, Cybersecurity Analysts, Cloud and DevOps Engineers, and Digital Marketing and E-commerce Professionals. 

While these roles reflect shared regional trends, the study also highlights the need to adapt training programmes to each country’s labour-market priorities. 

Employers Are Open to New Approaches to Learning 

The findings reveal opportunities for stronger collaboration between employers and education providers. 

76% of surveyed employers expressed openness to micro-credentials, provided they are recognised, aligned with industry needs and developed with employer involvement. 

Employers also emphasised the importance of transferable skills, including critical thinking, communication, teamwork and adaptability. 

These findings point to the value of combining traditional education with targeted training, practical experience and recognised certifications that respond to evolving workforce requirements. 

Turning Research into Pathways to Employment 

Beyond identifying labour-market trends, the EUSEEDS study will inform recommendations for training, certification and the development of university employability centres across the five participating countries. 

Through EUSEEDS, Forward MENA and its project partners are working to translate these insights into practical approaches that strengthen youth employability and create stronger connections between education and employment across the Eastern Mediterranean. 

About EUSEEDS 

EUSEEDS (Enable, Upgrade and Spread Employability, Entrepreneurship and Digital Skills of Eastern Mediterranean Youth through Dedicated University Centers) aims to strengthen youth employability, entrepreneurship and digital skills through dedicated university centres. 

Led by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), the project brings together regional and European partners, including Forward MENA. 

EUSEEDS is a project co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. 

EUSEEDS is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.

PUBLICATION DISCLAIMER

This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of Forward MENA and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or the Programme management structures.