Two years after its launch, the Pact for Skills celebrates an important milestone as its membership grows to 1 000 members, including large multinational companies, SMEs, local training providers, and chambers of commerce. The Pact is a central element of the European Skills Agenda.

Member States have endorsed and presented their contributions to meet the EU 2030 social target of ensuring that at least 60% of adults participate in training courses every year. This is also important to reach the employment rate target of at least 78% by 2030.

In this context, the Pact for Skills offers a unique platform of cooperation that brings together public and private organisations who commit to concrete training offers for workers across Europe, which so far has gathered pledges to help train 6 million people.

The Commission has proposed to make 2023 the European Year of Skills, giving a fresh impetus for investment in skills across the EU.

The Pact for Skills two years on

All stakeholders joining the Pact sign a Charter outlining principles on quality training, lifelong learning and inclusion. Since its launch on 10 November 2020, the Pact for Skills has mobilised:

• 12 large-scale European skills partnerships in strategic industrial ecosystems and sectors. Together, these partnerships have committed to upskill and reskill close to 6 million people in the coming years, including:
  • digital
  • construction
  • tourism
  • offshore renewable energy
  • aerospace and defence
• 1 000 individual members. They range from large multinational companies to SMEs, local training providers, chambers of commerce, regional authorities and employer and trade union representatives covering all Member States and many European regions.

Background

The Pact for Skills, launched on 10 November 2020, brings together companies, workers, local authorities, social partners, training providers and employment services to identify what skills are needed and to make commitments to reskill workers, preferably by pooling efforts in a partnership, addressing the needs of the labour, supporting green and digital transitions as well as local, regional growth strategies.

To date, 1 000 organisations have joined the Pact for Skills and 12 large-scale partnerships have pledged to help upskill 6 million people. The 1 000^th member will officially join the Pact during a special session on the Pact for Skills at the European Employment & Social Rights Forum on 16 November 2022.