The People and Culture Council held its latest meeting on 7 February 2025. The meeting hosted two special guests: Dr Tjaša Bartolj, Researcher at the Institute for Economic Research (IER), who presented key findings from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, and Ms Mel Hitchcocks, Principal of the British International School of Ljubljana (BISL), who addressed the challenges of attracting and retaining UK teachers in Slovenia. Additionally, the Council confirmed its mission statement for the next two years, setting a clear direction for its future work.

Dr Bartolj, who contributed to the Future of Jobs Report 2025 as a Survey Partner, explained to the Council members how automation and AI are reshaping the labour market. While job creation is expected to outpace job losses by 2030, certain roles will be significantly affected by economic shifts and increasing automation. A major challenge ahead is ensuring that workers are equipped with the right skills, as 39% of employees globally and 37% in Slovenia will require upskilling. Workers will need to adapt by developing a mix of technical and soft skills to remain competitive.

Ms Hitchcocks outlined some of the key barriers in hiring and attracting UK teachers in Slovenia, including high taxation and high cost of living, slow visa processing, and limited flight connections to the UK, all of which can also impact long-term retention. Despite these challenges, she highlighted Slovenia’s professional and educational development opportunities, high quality of life and proximity to nature as strong advantages that make the country an attractive destination for educators.

The Council also defined its mission statement for the upcoming two years, reinforcing the important role of people and culture in shaping the future of work:

The People and Culture Council is rooted in people—that’s its essence. Our goal is to create a dynamic community that fosters sustainable development and strengthens a culture of inclusion, accountability, and innovation. By collaborating with various stakeholders, we aim to discover best practices and solutions that will contribute to the development of all organizations. Our efforts are focused on enhancing collaboration and innovation within the Slovenian economy and raising awareness of the importance of people and culture in strategic decision-making.

A special thank you to our member Better for hosting this meeting! Tomaž Gornik, CEO of Better, warmly welcomed the Council members and gave us an overview of their work in Slovenia and across Europe.

Strategic Partners