Launched: April 2026
The challenge
The textile, clothing, leather and footwear (TCLF) industries are key to Portugal’s economy but have low labour productivity. In 2024, output was EUR 23,044 - far below the manufacturing sector's EUR 34,488. This gap limits wage growth and deters younger, skilled workers. It is compounded by slow technological modernization, weak innovation, and difficulty attracting talent - all crucial for future competitiveness.
These challenges are further intensified by developments arising from the green and digital transitions, limited interaction between vocational and higher education systems that hinder technical skills development, and an ageing, predominantly male workforce. These factors also underscore the pressing need for generational renewal and improved gender balance.
The ambition
The Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) for Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Sectors aims to transform the Northern region of Portugal into a centre of national and European excellence in the attraction and retention of talent in the TCLF sectors.
By promoting lifelong learning, the RSP will help TCLF professionals to access skills development aligned with technological advances and new business models in the fashion industries.
The RSP's goals include making training routes available to all, lowering social inequality, and guaranteeing equal chances, social inclusion, and access to qualifications for young people, adults looking to retrain, women, immigrants, and other under-represented groups.
The RSP will identify new skills needs such as sustainability, eco-design, circular economy, value chain management, and internationalisation. It will foster innovation and social responsibility, helping the TCLF sector modernise and meet European standards for competitiveness and fair transition.
The commitments
The RSP has committed to a set of actions that follow the context of the TCLF industries national outlined in the EU TCLF Pact for Skills agenda. These actions are defined in five pillars needed to transform the sectors into leading examples of skills, innovation and inclusion.
The first pillar aims to promote a culture of lifelong learning and encourage workers’ access to training, whilst promoting reskilling and skills recognition. The second pillar aims to build strong partnerships with relevant stakeholders, building dialogue and cooperation.
The third pillar emphasises tracking skill supply and demand, and forecasting future requirements, since recognising new skills and predicting job market shifts will help the region and TCLF sector to remain adaptable.
The fourth and fifth pillars of the RSP’s commitments focus on fighting discrimination and advancing gender equality. By also enhancing the appeal of the fashion industry, these efforts help reinforce the sector’s reputation as a hub for innovation, creativity, sustainability, and skilled career paths, encouraging new generations to join.
The impact
The RSP aims to attract over 42 000 trainees to upskilling and reskilling programmes by 2030. In addition, the RSP will create 68 new curricula and training pathways and onboard over 700 certified trainers. Overall, there will be 250 awareness raising actions, and more than 52 000 young people involved in hackathons, open days, talks and competitions under the fifth pillar.
Download the document below to learn more about the RSP for Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Sectors in the Norte Region, Portugal.
