A Union of Skills that prepare people for a competitive Europe

The Skills Union will support the development of our Union’s human capital to strengthen the EU’s competitiveness. A key initiative of the first 100 days of this Commission, the Skills Union:  

• will enable  higher levels of basic skills to be achieved , for example through the basic skills support pilot project;
• will offer  adults regular opportunities for lifelong skills upgrading and retraining , for example through a skills guarantee pilot project;
• It will facilitate recruitment by companies across the EU , for example through a skills portability initiative;
• will attract and retain the skills and talents  needed in the European economy, for example through the ‘Choose Europe’ action to attract the best talents globally;
• will have a strong governance foundation , supported by the new European High Level Council on Skills, which will be guided by the European Observatory of Strategic Information on Skills.

From children in school to adults reaching retirement, this initiative  will equip people across Europe  with the skills they need to thrive. It will also foster the  portability of skills  across the continent through the free flow of knowledge and innovation.

The Skills Union Communication will also be accompanied by an  action plan on core skills  and a  strategic plan for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education  to improve STEM skills, promote STEM careers, attract more girls and women and boost readiness for the digital and cleantech transition.  

New goals for 2030

The Commission proposes a series of new objectives for 2030:

• the percentage of people with deficiencies in reading, writing, mathematics, science and digital skills should be less than 15%, while the percentage of people with the best results in reading, writing, mathematics and science should be at least 15%;
• The percentage of students enrolled in STEM fields in initial VET at the secondary level must be at least 45%, and at least 1 in 4 students must be women;
• The percentage of students enrolled in STEM fields in higher education must be at least 32%, and at least 2 in 5 students must be women;
• The percentage of students enrolled in ICT PhD programmes must be at least 5%, and at least 1 in 3 students must be women.

Building a solid foundation through education and training

Education and training play a key role in creating quality jobs and ensuring a quality of life; for example, we will support reading, writing, maths, science, digital skills and citizenship through the  pilot project on supporting basic skills . Together with Member States, the Commission will develop and financially support a framework of effective intervention measures (such as early warning, monitoring, personalised support or networks). This programme for children and young people who have difficulties in acquiring basic skills will improve their performance levels.

Regular upskilling and retraining will be the new norm

The development of new skills must be a recurring and essential element of people’s professional lives in a constantly evolving economy.

The Commission will develop a pilot project on  skills guarantee . This project will offer workers involved in restructuring processes, or at risk of unemployment, the opportunity to continue developing their professional career in another company or another sector.

The EU will streamline and strengthen EU skills academies that provide the skills businesses need for the green transition and the Clean Industry Pact.

Facilitate the free movement of qualified persons

The full potential of the single market will be unlocked through the circulation of skills. To provide more opportunities for workers and businesses, a  skills portability initiative  will facilitate the recognition and acceptance of skills and qualifications across the EU, regardless of where they were acquired. The initiative will promote the use of digital credentials.

Making the EU a magnet for talent

The Skills Union will strengthen the EU’s ability to attract, develop and retain key talent, both within the EU and around the world.

For example, the Commission will launch a pilot call for Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions “Choose Europe”, with a budget of €22.5 million to attract the best talents worldwide, offering excellent working conditions and employment in the scientific sector, as well as career prospects.

Furthermore, once adopted by Parliament and Council, the Commission will create an  EU talent pool  to recruit non-EU staff at all skill levels, especially in professions facing labour shortages. A  visa strategy will be presented this year  to further support the arrival of high-calibre students, skilled workers and researchers.

A new strong governance

Delivering the Skills Union will require collective responsibility and increased ambition, investment and effective implementation of reforms. To achieve this, the Skills Union will be based on strong governance, which will be guided by the  European Observatory of Strategic Skills Information . The Observatory will provide data and forecasts on skills and enable early warning of skills shortages in critical or strategic sectors.

A new  European High-Level Council on Skills  will bring together education and training providers, business leaders and social partners to provide EU policymakers with comprehensive information on skills. Building on the observatory, the Council will ensure that there is a coordinated vision and that bold measures are identified to strengthen our human capital.

As human capital, education and skills are a key issue to ensure European competitiveness, the Commission intends to introduce  a new EU-27 Recommendation on education and skills  in the European Semester cycle, to guide Member States and relevant actors.

More information European Commission.