Launched: June 2026
The challenge
The leather and footwear industries are vital to the Valencian Community’s economy, employing more than 19,500 people and representing half of Spain’s footwear workforce. However, the region is facing mounting pressures linked to technological advances, ecological transition and persistent shortages of qualified profiles.
The region and sector also face structural demographic challenges, as an ageing workforce and waning interest among younger generations threaten the transfer of traditional craftsmanship in areas such as cutting, stitching, finishing and quality control.
Most businesses are also dealing with intense global competition, rising production costs, shifting consumer expectations and pressure from low‑cost imports – all of which heighten uncertainty and reduce margins.
These pressures coincide with a rapidly growing demand for new skills linked to digitalisation, sustainability, circular economy, eco-design, automation, ecommerce and internationalisation.
The ambition
The Regional Skills Partnership for the Valencian Community Footwear and Leather industries (LFootVal) aims to respond to instability by attracting talent and promoting lifelong learning for workers.
It will focus on occupations that add value in complex scenarios such as global trade shifts, rising energy costs and the rapid digital and circular transformation of the industries. These occupations include design, craft trades, circular industry and human resources.
The commitments
The RSP has committed to a set of actions to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience, sustainability and social inclusion of the footwear and leather ecosystem.
A key priority is to increase cooperation across the industry by fostering structured, permanent collaboration among companies, administrations, social partners, education providers, universities and technology centres.
The RSP will also drive innovation, digitalisation and sustainability by supporting the integration of green and digital skills into training systems and industrial practices.
Finally, it will contribute to regional economic and social cohesion by reinforcing the role of the footwear and leather industries as strategic sectors for employment, territorial development, entrepreneurship and social inclusion in the Valencian Community.
The impact
The RSP will create a strong Skills Alliance by designing a VET Adaptation Plan, ensuring that training curricula and teaching expertise stay aligned with the evolving skills needs of footwear and leather companies.
It will also monitor the supply and demand for qualifications by taking part in industry forums and collaborative projects, and analysing the training needs across the Community. This shared pool of information will support a coordinated approach to dual vocational training, learning, upskilling and reskilling.
The RSP will promote career opportunities, support training pathways and encourage people to take part in internships, accreditation programmes and awareness raising activities. This includes contributing to flagship initiatives such as the Learning Factory in Elche, where key regional partners come together to blend traditional craftsmanship with digitalisation, automation and new industrial technologies.
These efforts will help attract younger generations and underrepresented groups, support long-term workforce renewal and strengthen the sectors’ contribution to the region's economic success.
View the document below to learn more about the RegionSkills Partnership for the Valencian Community Footwear and Leather industriesal.
