Digital Talent EU Days 2026: Connecting people and skills across Europe

Digital Talent EU Days 2026 brought together policymakers, industry leaders, educators and digital skills experts at Trinity Business School in Dublin on 15–16 October to explore how Europe can develop, attract and retain the talent needed for its digital future.

Organised by Connecting Women in Digital and LEADSx2030, in partnership with the European Commission, the Irish Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and local partners, the event featured 33 sessions covering digital skills, emerging technologies, workforce development and women's participation in digital careers.

Digital talent and opportunities

Opening the event, Rehana Schwinninger-Ladak from the European Commission emphasised the importance of aligning digital education with employers' needs and ensuring women play a greater role in shaping and leading technology.

Access to opportunity was also central to the keynote by Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe, who recalled learning to programme on an Olivetti computer thanks to parents who recognised the value of technology despite knowing little about it themselves. His story illustrated how important early opportunities, curiosity and creativity are in developing future talent.

Yet significant barriers remain, particularly for women. The Women in Digital Index 2026, launched during the event, revealed an EU average score of 49.9 out of 100, with Sweden, Finland and Ireland leading the rankings. ICT education emerged as a particularly weak point, confirming that inequalities begin well before women enter the workforce.

These findings provided a backdrop to discussions among representatives from seven Member States, who shared national approaches to widening women's participation in digital careers. The Women in Digital Forum's thematic working groups also tested practical tools and recommendations addressing girls' educational pathways, women's re-entry into employment, intersectional barriers and participation in the AI economy.

Strengthening the connection between digital skills and industry needs

But widening access is only part of the challenge. As technology evolves, education and training must keep pace with industry needs. The launch of the AISHA European AI Skills Academy highlighted efforts to strengthen Europe's AI talent pipeline, while sessions on cybersecurity, semiconductors, skills intelligence and sectoral specialisms explored how to better connect education, employers and emerging workforce demands.

The changing nature of work was another central theme. In her keynote, Bernie Foley, Vice President of Product Management at Workday, demonstrated how AI agents are transforming everyday activities, reducing administrative work while reinforcing the importance of human judgement and analytical thinking.

Building on this perspective, discussions throughout the second day examined reskilling, industry-led training, AI in healthcare and professional development for educators. A recurring message was that training alone is insufficient without organisational change, opportunities for career progression and stronger efforts to retain talent, particularly women in digital professions.

The closing keynote by Dr Alessandra Sala brought these challenges together, highlighting how AI can reproduce existing inequalities through biased data and occupational stereotypes. She called for stronger policies, investment that advances gender equality, and greater representation of women in AI leadership and governance.

Putting the Forum’s work into practice

Across two days, Digital Talent EU Days 2026 reinforced the message that Europe's digital transformation depends on people as much as on technology. Developing technical expertise is essential, but so is making education accessible, connecting skills with employment opportunities and ensuring that women can participate fully as learners, professionals and leaders.