The Pact for Skills will be at the heart of the European Employment and Social Rights Forum on 4 March 2026, putting skills policy, private sector investment and partnership-driven solutions firmly on the agenda for jobs and social rights in Europe.
The Forum is the EU’s annual flagship event on employment, social protection and social rights, organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. It will take place on 3–4 March 2026, in Brussels and online.
The 2026 edition focuses on ‘Social Europe: Empowering people in times of change’, and brings together policymakers, businesses and civil society to discuss the future of Europe’s employment and social model.
As labour shortages intensify across key sectors and new technologies reshape the world of work, the Pact for Skills sessions will show how coordinated action between industry, public authorities, and education and training providers is already helping to build the workforce Europe needs – and how this approach can be expanded further across sectors and regions.
Spotlight on private sector investment in skills
Held under the overarching theme ‘Private sector investment in skills: Tackling labour shortages through partnerships’, the Pact for Skills sessions will underline the strategic role of skills development in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and social cohesion.
Discussions will focus on how to:
- accelerate action on persistent labour and skills shortages in strategic sectors;
- expand large-scale upskilling and reskilling to support productivity and innovation;
- turn the Union of Skills agenda into practical cooperation between businesses, public authorities and training providers;
- mobilise long-term private sector investment in workforce development.
The sessions will also highlight real results from both Large-Scale Skills Partnerships and Regional Skills Partnerships, showing how collaboration at European and local level is already delivering benefits for workers, employers and communities.
What to expect
The Pact for Skills will organise three dedicated breakout sessions held throughout the Forum’s second day:
- Pact for Skills: Future skills needs and developments
- Pact for Skills: Closing the skills gap for a competitive Europe
- Pact for Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal: Opportunities for synergies
You can expect:
- forward-looking insights into how skills needs are evolving across sectors and regions;
- concrete examples of successful partnership models and investment approaches;
- exchanges with European and national policymakers, industry leaders, training providers and social partners;
- opportunities to connect with other Pact for Skills members and explore new cross-sector collaborations.
Practical information
- Date: Wednesday, 4 March 2026
- Location: The EGG, Brussels, and online (hybrid)
- Event: European Employment and Social Rights Forum 2026
Join the conversation and register now
This year’s Forum will address how the EU is responding to the challenges many people and businesses face today, including labour shortages, skills mismatches and rapid changes in the labour market.
Opinion leaders, policymakers, businesses, training providers and civil society will come together to explore bold ideas to support Europe’s greatest strength – its people.
Join us on 4 March to shape what comes next for skills in Europe.
Details
- Publication date
- 20 January 2026
- Author
- Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
- Location
- Brussels