A. Need for EU action

Why? What is the problem being addressed?

Skills and training are crucial to strengthening the EU’s sustainable competitiveness, supporting a job-rich recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring a socially fair digital and green transition. The European Pillar of Social Rights action plan, which has been welcomed by the European Council, recognises this by setting the headline target of at least 60% of all adults participating in training every year by 2030.

However, the adult learning participation rate stood at only 37.4% in 2016 and will not reach the 2030 target if recent trends continue. Moreover, adults’ participation in learning is unequal across Member States and groups of adults, increasing vulnerabilities in a context of accelerating labour market transformations for those who participate less. Two main problems lead to low and unequal participation of adults in learning:

-individuals receive insufficient financial support for training. This is mainly due to low levels of investment, gaps in coverage of certain groups of adults and types of training, barriers to devoting time to training and fragmentation of support, and

-individuals’ incentives and motivation to take up training are insufficient. This is related to people’s limited awareness of their skills needs, limited transparency of training offers, uncertainty about a training programme’s quality and recognition, and insufficient tailoring of available offers to individual needs.

What is this initiative expected to achieve?

The general objective of the initiative is to support Member States’ reforms to empower adults to participate in training, in order to increase participation rates and reduce skills gaps. The initiative thereby contributes to the EU's objective of promoting a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress. Specifically, it aims to:

-close gaps in existing support systems so that all adults have access to support for training, including for professional transitions and irrespective of their labour force or professional status;

-increase individuals’ incentives and motivation to seek training. It is embedded in the wider range of actions under the European Skills Agenda.

What is the added value of action at EU level?

EU action is warranted by the EU policy objective of having a skilled labour force for the competitiveness of enterprises and innovation for sustainable growth and the resilience of our economy in a context of accelerating green and digital transitions. An EU initiative supports, coordinates and accelerates national efforts by sharing good practices and promoting innovative approaches to common challenges. It helps in setting expectations that all stakeholders will contribute to, and benefit from, the shared asset of a skilled EU labour force. It can enhance the quality and transparency of training markets across the EU, benefitting individuals and companies on the single market and the freedom of movement.

B. Policy options

What legislative and non-legislative policy options have been considered? Is there a preferred choice? Why?

The assessment considered policy options that differ in terms of the delivery mode for training entitlements (training vouchers or personal accounts), the size of the target group and individuals’ freedom of choice to select training opportunities.

The preferred option is to provide training entitlements to all working-age adults in the form of personal accounts, while modulating amounts according to support needs and allowing individuals to choose freely from training opportunities characterised by a level of quality, labour market relevance and recognition that is assured by their inclusion in a public registry. This option is most effective in achieving the objectives of the initiative, as it:

-comprehensively reduces support gaps;

-ensures the transferability of training entitlements; and

-increases the tailoring of training to individual needs.