Urgent actions are needed both individually and collectively to reach the targets set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The complex issues of sustainability and climate change set the need for new skills and competences. Education systems worldwide need to integrate competence development into their agenda to achieve a sustainable transition. Higher education institutions have a crucial role in decreasing the gap between the graduated students' competences and the requirements of the labour market. In the pursuit of a workforce prepared for the complexities of the 21st-century workplace, this paper explores the interplay between European competence frameworks and transversal skills. Using a comparative analysis of four frameworks—DigComp, EntreComp, LifeComp, and GreenComp—we identify distinct features and cross-reference competences with transversal skills. As a result, media and information literacy emerges as a crucial transversal skill across all frameworks. This study offers valuable insights for strategic decision-making in talent development and organizational planning, aligning education with the dynamic demands of today’s society. The findings underscore the key role of transversal skills in preparing individuals for the 21st century labour market. © 2025 Budapest University of Technology and Economics. All rights reserved.
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