The Union of Skills is the European Commission’s flagship strategy to boost competitiveness across the EU by strengthening its human capital. It integrates education, training, and employment policies under one overarching framework to keep pace with technological change, the green transition, and evolving labor needs.
Why It Matters
Europe faces growing skills and labor shortages—especially in STEM and ICT fields—while workers struggle to adapt to changing job requirements. Businesses are also finding it difficult to recruit the talent they need. The Union of Skills responds directly to these challenges with a bold and inclusive vision.
Strategic Pillars
The initiative is structured around four key goals:
- Build foundational skills
Launch schemes like the Basic Skills Support and STEM Education Strategic Plan to ensure everybody masters essential literacy, maths, science, digital, and citizenship skills. A new VET strategy aims to make vocational training more attractive and inclusive.
- Embed lifelong learning
Promote regular upskilling and reskilling with tools like micro-credentials, a Skills Guarantee for unemployed workers, and EU Skills Academies focused on green and digital sectors.
- Enhance skills mobility across Europe
Enable freer movement of skills with the Skills Portability Initiative, development of a European degree, and a European VET diploma. Strengthen cooperation through Universities Alliances, VET Centres of Excellence, and school mobility networks.
- Attract, develop, and retain top talent
Establish an EU Talent Pool to match non-EU jobseekers to in-demand roles, launch a visa strategy, and pilot the “Choose Europe” initiative to draw students and researchers to the EU.
Governance & Oversight
To steer and inform the Union of Skills, the EU is setting up:
- A European Skills Intelligence Observatory for real-time data and foresight
- A European Skills High-Level Board combining leaders from education, business, and social sectors
- Integration of skills priorities within the European Semester economic review cycle
In Summary
The Union of Skills represents the EU’s commitment to:
- Empowering residents with essential and advanced skills
- Creating pathways for continuous learning and skill renewal
- Enhancing mobility and recognition across borders
- Drawing and retaining diverse talent to drive innovation and growth
Ultimately, this initiative aims to build a resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking European workforce equipped for the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow.
