More than 6.1 million people have received training under the Pact for Skills since its launch in 2020, according to the results of the 2024 Pact's annual survey. Over 3,200 organisations that invest in skills development have now joined the Pact, including industry, social partners, education and training providers, local authorities and employment services.
The Pact for Skills is central to delivering on the Union of Skills, the EU's new strategy to support skills development and strengthen EU competitiveness. The Pact brings together public and private organisations that work in partnership to identify skills gaps and take concrete action to address these.
Taking action to close skills gaps
The 2024 Pact for Skills Annual Survey demonstrates how members of the Pact across Europe are taking practical steps to close skills gaps – delivering training, investing in skills development and building partnerships across key industrial sectors.
The survey also shows that the Pact has accelerated its support for workers and companies across the economy. Its 20 Large-Scale Skills Partnerships continue to be key drivers of action. In 2024, members of these partnerships trained 33% of their workforce on average. Together, they remain committed to upskilling and reskilling over 25 million people by 2030. In the Union of Skills, the Commission called on the members of the Pact to double their pledges for up- and reskilling.
Accelerating skills development across Europe
The survey also found that:
- Pact members developed or updated nearly 48,000 training programmes in 2024.
- More than 42,000 stakeholders joined skills networks supported by Pact members, enhancing and improving cooperation among the different players involved in education and training.
- Members value Large-Scale Skills Partnerships, because joint actions and better networks led to improved skills monitoring and enhanced the quality and number of training activities.
- 84% of respondents consider the Pact to be a valuable initiative, particularly for collaboration, funding access and skills intelligence.
The survey also highlights the growing importance of Regional Skills Partnerships, with 12 regional partnerships now active across Europe. These partnerships help ensure that training provided is in line with regional skills needs. Most recently, two new partnerships have been established: the Regional Skills Partnership for the Iberian Peninsula, which is boosting skills development for the aerospace and defence sectors across Spain and Portugal, and the Regional Skills Partnership for the Western Balkans Region, which supports cross-border cooperation to strengthen skills for green and digital transitions in the region.
Background
The Pact for Skills was launched on in November 2020. It supports skills partnerships that address labour market needs, fostering the green and digital transitions. The Pact also supports the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the EU headline targets on employment and training set out in the Pillar Action Plan.
In the Union of Skills strategy, the Commission committed to strengthening the Pact for Skills so that it becomes the framework for EU skills initiatives and grant programmes.
Members of the Pact sign a charter and pledge concrete actions on upskilling and reskilling, in line with principles on quality training, lifelong learning and inclusion. The Pact offers members access to networking opportunities, knowledge-sharing platforms and guidance on EU funding.
The 2024 Pact for Skills Annual Survey was open from 28 January to 25 February 2025. It received responses from 999 Pact members across all EU Member States and 9 candidate or countries in the European Economic Area. Read the full survey report.
