More than 10 million workers received training under the Skills Pact

According to the European Commission’s annual survey, more than 10 million people – including 3.9 million in 2025 alone – have benefited from skills-up initiatives underthe Skills Pact since its launch in 2020.

Launched in November 2020, the Skills Pact supports skills partnerships that address Europe’s needs and promote the green and digital transitions. It contributesto the European Pillar of Social Rights and the EU’s headline target of 60% of adults participating in training each year by 2030. Through public-private partnerships, the Pact identifies skills gaps among European workers, businesses and sectors, and seeks to address them, thereby contributing to Europe’s green and digital transitions.  

The Pact mobilised a network of 4,000 organisations, ranging from industry and social partners to education and training providers, regional and local authorities and employment services. Together, they have invested over €1 billionto strengthen skills across the EU, according to the report.

85% of the companies and workers surveyed value the benefits and impacts of the Pact, such as joint action, access to skills information and networking opportunities. The survey also revealed that participating companies and workers continued to step up their efforts to provide high-quality training and improve access to learning. They prioritised digital, environmental and sector-specific skills, thereby reflecting the most pressing needs of the European labour market.

More than 277,600 organisations joined skills networks, strengthening cooperation between education, industry and public authorities through the Skills Pact. They developed or updated around 46,500 training programmes, including short courses and longer programmes leading to qualifications.

Regional and large-scale partnerships

The survey also highlighted the effectiveness ofRegional Skills Partnerships(RSPs), with 93% demonstrating an improvement in the alignment of regional skills supply and demand, and 86% facilitating the transition to a green and digital economy.

A notable example is the regional skills partnership in Thessaly, Greece, which equips workers with the skills needed to succeed in areas such as smart agriculture and renewable energy. Furthermore, 79% of regional skills partnerships contributed to local economic growth, as seen in initiatives such asEURADRIAin Italy and Slovenia, which improves training and employment opportunities for workers across various sectors.

Furthermore, in 2025, members ofthe Large-Scale Skills Partnerships (LSPs)trained an average of 26% of their workforce, demonstrating a strong commitment to accelerating skills development. The Pact’s Large-Scale Skills Partnerships are collaborative initiatives spanning diverse industrial ecosystems. They bring together key stakeholders to invest in the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce.

Background

Organisations participating in the Skills Development Pact are committed to upskilling and reskilling 25 million people by 2030.

In theSkills Union, the EU’s strategy to boost skills development and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, the Commission urged national, regional and local authorities, businesses, social partners, sectoral organisations, chambers of commerce, education and training providers, and employment services to redouble this commitment.

The annual survey of the 2025 Skills Pact was open from 7 January to 4 February 2026 and gathered 1,534 responses from Pact members across the EU and 11 candidate or EEA countries.  

More information: European Commission.