The Pact for Skills reaches 4,000 members!

The Pact’s expanding community includes 20 Large-Scale Skills Partnerships (LSPs) and 22 Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs) – ensuring skills development keeps pace with the EU’s broader ambitions and supports future competitiveness. 

A growing network

Over the last few years, members of the Pact have steadily increased Europe’s capacity to upskill and reskill its workforce. 

Results from the 2024 Annual Survey indicated that Pact members supported 2.6 million people through training initiatives and invested EUR 650.5 million in skills development. Their work helped reinforce a culture of lifelong learning, supported by 47,800 new training courses covering technical, transversal, and entrepreneurial skills. 

LSPs trained around one third of their workforce, while RSPs focused on aligning training with regional labour market needs. More than 80% of members highlighted the value of the Pact’s support services, particularly opportunities for knowledge exchange and access to practical tools.

Momentum rises in 2025

In 2025, the Pact’s progress increased with members supporting 3.9 million learners and investment rising to EUR 1.02 billion¹.

This reflects a deep commitment to strengthening competitiveness and preparing Europe’s workforce for the future, particularly amid the green and digital transitions.

As a result, training programmes were updated, outreach expanded, and communication activities strengthened. Engagement with the Pact’s principles remained high, with 95% of members contributing to at least one, especially lifelong learning.

LSPs also played a crucial role in the Pact, training 26% of employees. At the same time, Regional Skills Partnerships doubled in number and reported strong results:

• 93% improved alignment between regional skills supply and demand
• 86% advanced green and digital objectives
• 79% contributed to regional economic growth

A platform aligned with its community 

In 2025, 85% of members affirmed the Pact’s value in supporting upskilling and reskilling efforts. They emphasised the importance of networking, peer exchange, and access to resources. Many also expressed interest in more tailored support, sector‑specific guidance, and improved access to funding.

The Pact for Skills’ rapid expansion reflects the EU’s wider focus on placing people and talent at the centre of Europe’s competitiveness – a focus embodied in the Union of Skills, which is strengthening and streamlining the Pact to help workers gain the skills they need in the EU’s most strategic sectors. 

As such, the Pact has strengthened Europe’s ability to prepare its workforce for the future, ensuring that skills development remains a driving force in the EU’s competitiveness and resilience.

The Union of Skills – one year on

Launched in March 2025, the Union of Skills marks its first anniversary and has already made great strides.

Over the past year, the Union has launched several targeted actions to direct talent where it is needed most. The EUR 14.5 million Skills Guarantee Pilot is helping workers transition into strategic industries, while the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action ‘Choose Europe’ Pilot has already attracted 100 postdoctoral researchers. Skills have also gained greater political visibility, supported by the Council Recommendation on human capital and fresh insights from the European Skills Intelligence Observatory.

Investment in basic skills has been another priority. The Union has dedicated EUR 12 million to boosting basic skills and introduced new EU-wide digital education guidelines to support teachers. These measures reinforce the Union’s commitment to creating stronger, more accessible learning pathways for all.

Responding to Europe’s growing need for STEM expertise, the Union has broadened opportunities through EUR 10 million for seven STEM Skills Foundries, targeted initiatives for 280,000 women and girls and the rollout of the STEM Education Strategic Plan. The Girls Go STEM initiative further supports this work by encouraging more young women to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Interested in learning more about the Union of Skills? Take a look at the first anniversary article. 

^{1 Figures lifted from the draft results of the 2025 Pact for Skills Annual Survey.}