Eastern Lithuania is rural and sparsely populated, and most businesses, vocational education and training (VET) providers, and public services are concentrated in larger towns. The region faces greater population decline, an ageing demographic, and increased out-migration of young people - resulting in a sharper 'brain drain' than Lithuania's national average.
This means high population areas act as economic and service hubs for the surrounding rural areas, while the rural populations are facing labour shortages, skills mismatches and growing challenges in maintaining accessible services and training opportunities in smaller towns and rural areas.
The ambition
Due to these challenges, many companies in Eastern Lithuania report difficulties in finding qualified workers and increasingly rely on on-the-job training to address gaps between available qualifications and regional labour market needs.
The Eastern Lithuania Skills Partnership aspires to strengthen the regional skills ecosystem and support the transition towards a more resilient, innovative and competitive regional economy. It will bring together employers, education and training providers, public authorities, and civil society organisations for a coordinated regional approach to skills development, to improve skills supply, strengthen VET systems, and promote lifelong learning opportunities.
Enhancing workforce qualifications and fostering collaboration between businesses and education providers will lead to quality jobs, boosting regional productivity and value.
As the region’s labour force is shrinking due to population decline, the RSP will also champion inclusion and workforce reintegration initiatives, creating more resilient communities.
The commitments
The RSP commits to improving workforce skills and support sustainable regional economic development. It will do this by promoting cooperation between employers and education and training providers to improve existing upskilling and reskilling opportunities.
The RSP will also aim to improve the curriculum, provide practical training opportunities and boost cooperation between employer organisations, education providers and regional stakeholders. This will ensure that education and training programmes create skills that are in line with evolving labour market needs.
The partnership will expand cooperation across Eastern Lithuania and encourage public and private investment in skills development, with the aim of strengthening the regional skills ecosystem and improving access to training opportunities.
Finally, the RSP will promote the use and sharing of knowledge sharing, leading to improved regional skills intelligence. This will help pinpoint emerging skill requirements and encourage decision-making based on solid evidence.
Want to know more about this RSP’s work? Find out more in the Partnership Declaration:
Details
- Publication date
- 20 April 2026
- Author
- Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion