The European Commission is announcing the end of the European Year of Skills, which aimed to help citizens get the skills they need for quality jobs and help businesses tackle skills shortages in the EU. This effort is particularly important for the green and the digital transition.

Throughout the European Year of Skills, the EU coordinated 190 skills initiatives and organized over 2,000 events and activities across Europe, mobilizing millions of people and putting skills at the center of competences at local, regional and European level. Overall, awareness of skills development rose from 26% to 53% according to the first survey results for the European Pillar of Social Rights gathered from 3,500 people interviewed in 12 Member States. Furthermore, 64% of respondents who saw the European Year of Skills campaign said they now intend to attend a training programme.

The European Year of Skills served as a platform for dialogue, cooperation and action between national authorities and European institutions, social partners, education and training providers, learners, public employment services and businesses, with the aim of building a sustainable upskilling and reskilling mindset in Europe.

The importance of key skills useful in various fields as well as the need to continue cooperation with all interested parties were highlighted through the flagship events Highlighting Skills, “Meeting the best”, “European Vocational Skills Week” etc. The Real Skills from Real People event featured over 200 personal skills stories that highlighted the transformative power of skills and the positive impact of European funding on the lives of European citizens.

The European Year of Skills started in May 2023 and was announced in President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address in 2022. The Year of Skills highlighted the importance of promoting and investing in lifelong learning . It also gave the impetus for tangible actions to achieve the European goal of annual training of at least 60% of adults by 2030.

Building on the momentum of the European Year of Skills, the EU’s efforts to boost skills will continue, as outlined in the action plan presented by the Commission in March 2024 to tackle labor and skills shortages.

Here you can see a presentation of the main results of the European Year of Skills.

Athena Papakosta