An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of Skills : final report.
Date: 2024-08-30
Institutions: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, EU Member State, education, education policy, educational system, integration into employment, labour market, regional development, report, skilled worker, social integration, vocational training

An in-depth overview of the 
EU cohesion funds’ 
investments in skills
in the context of  
the European Year of Skills

FINAL REPORT | 2024

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Directorate B — Jobs and skills

Unit EMPL.B.2 — Skills Agenda

Contact: Carlo Scatoli

E-mail: empl-b2-unit@ec.europa.eu

European Commission

B-1049 Brussels

Written by Karolina Jakubowska, Gert-Jan Lindeboom, Heleen Jalvingh, Lucian Plaumann, 
Dora Vajai.

This report is the final deliverable of the specific contract VC/2023/0385 under the 
‘Framework contract for an ESF+ Support Centre – Lot 1’ (VC/2023/0036).

Manuscript completed in July 2024

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ISBN 978-92-68-14168-7 

doi:10.2767/522457 

KE-06-24-053-EN-N

An in-depth overview of the 
EU cohesion funds’ 
investments in skills
in the context of  
the European Year of Skills

FINAL REPORT | 2024

4

List of abbreviations

Civil Society Organisations 

European Qualifications Framework
European Regional Development Fund
European Social Fund Plus 
Individual Learning Account
International Standard Classification of Education
Just Transition Fund

CSO 
CoVEs  Centres of Vocational Excellence
EQF 
ERDF 
ESF+ 
ILA 
ISCED 
JTF 
NEET  Not in education, employment, or training
Non-governmental organisation
NGO 
Public Employment Service 
PES 
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
STEM 
Technical Support Instrument
TSI 
Vocational Education and Training
VET 

AT 
BE 
BG 
CY 
CZ 
DE 
DK 
EE 
EL 
ES 
FI 
FR 
HR 
HU 
IE 
IT  
LT 
LU 
LV 
MT 
NL 
PL 
PT 
RO 
SE 
SI 
SK 

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czechia
Germany
Denmark
Estonia
Greece
Spain
Finland
France
Croatia
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Latvia
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Sweden
Slovenia
Slovakia

5

3.13  Hungary 

3.14  Ireland 

3.15  Italy 

3.16  Latvia 

3.17  Lithuania 

3.18  Luxembourg 

3.19  Malta 

3.20  The Netherlands 

3.21  Poland 

3.22  Portugal 

3.23  Romania 

3.24  Slovakia 

3.25  Slovenia 

3.26  Spain 

3.27  Sweden 

Annex 1 Selected intervention fields 

Annex 2 Detailed analytical approach 

Step 1. Selection of priorities 

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

55

55

2. 

Detailed 
Step 
texts by human coders 

review 

of 

programme  
55

Step 
3. 
managing authorities 

Validation 

of 

estimates 

Annex 3 Coding scheme  

by  
57

58

Annex 
specific objectives, by country 

Skills 

4 

investments 

in 

ERDF  
61

Contents

List of abbreviations 

Executive summary  

1  Introduction  

Analytical approach 

5

7

9

10

2  European overview of cohesion funds’ investments 
12

in skills 

2.1  Overview  of  European 

investment 

through cohesion policy funding 

in  skills 
12

2.2  Estimated investment in skills – ESF+  

2.3  Estimated investments in skills – JTF  

2.4  Estimated investments in skills – ERDF  

2.5  Conclusions 

3  Country factsheets  

3.1  Austria 

3.2  Belgium 

3.3  Bulgaria  

3.4  Croatia  

3.5  Cyprus 

3.6  Czechia 

3.7  Denmark  

3.8  Estonia 

3.9  Finland 

3.10  France 

3.11  Germany 

3.12  Greece 

17

20

21

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

6

Executive summary 

This in-depth overview of European Union (EU) cohesion funds’ investment in skills aims to better understand the 
proportion of planned investments by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), European Regional Development Fund 
(ERDF), and Just Transition Fund (JTF)  dedicated to labour-market focused education, training and skills. Other EU 
funds that support skills exist as well, such as the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF), Erasmus+, Technical Support 
Instrument (TSI) and Horizon Europe. However, they are not covered in this report. 

Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research, the report presents the overview of the volume 
and share of planned financing targeted at education, training and skills, including the types of activities and target 
groups associated with these investments, across relevant investment priorities, programmes and Member States. 
Member States1 actively contributed to this report by reviewing the initial data assembled by a team of researchers 
at the ESF+ Support Centre. Types of activities are grouped by interventions that are directly related to (formal and 
non-formal) education and training at various levels, as well as those related to the context of training activities 
(promotion, guidance, curriculum review, etc.). Target groups are presented by age, as well as additional socio-eco-
nomic factors, such as employment status, and specific types of vulnerabilities. 

This  analysis  allows  to  compile  the  overall  financial  estimates  of  EU  cohesion  funds  allocated  to  skills  and  the 
estimated expected range of participants in skills-related measures. 

Key takeaways

€ 44.2 billion EU investment allocated to support to skills 
Across  the  Member  States,  most  investments  in  skills  are  part  of  ESF+  (EUR  40.4  billion, 
91.5%  of  the  total  estimated  EU  investment  in  skills)2.  The  JTF  applies  less  funds  to  skills 
(EUR 2.3 billion, 5.2%) followed by ERDF (EUR 1.5 billion, 3.3%). In combination with national 
co-financing across all Member States, the total investment in skills under EU cohesion funds 
is estimated at EUR 67.7 billion.

14.6% out of all investments in ESF+ / JTF 
/ ERDF are dedicated to skills
Overall, the largest shares of EU investment to skills related activities are in ESF+ (45.7% of 
total ESF+ investments), followed by JTF (12.2% of all JTF investments) and a small share of 
ERDF investments (0.7%).

Varied use of EU funds on skills across Member States
The largest shares of funds invested were found in Luxembourg (35.1%), Sweden (34.1%), the 
Netherlands (32.6%), Austria (31.0%), Denmark (30.7%) and Belgium (30.5%). Other areas 
of relative high levels of ESF+ support are in Ireland (29.2%, Portugal (23.5%) and Germany 
(17.7%).   The lowest shares of investments in skills-related activities were observed in Czechia 
(6.6%), Cyprus (9.2%), Croatia (8.6%), Lithuania (9.5%), Latvia (8.7%), and Romania (8.8%).

1  With the exception of Italy and Portugal.
2  Current programming period.

7

Executive summary 

As many as 38 million people participating in skills activities 
The  programmes  with  the  largest  budgets  also  have  the  largest  participation  figures:  Italy 
anticipates participation of between 4.5 and 9.7 million, Spain between 4.8 and 8.2 million, 
and Poland between 2.0 and 4.4 million people.

Core services are skills counselling and training for individuals
Skills counselling and training for individuals are evident in at least one priority across all Mem-
ber States. Most Member States include similar levels of attention for each of the main types 
of activities. There are some outliers, such as Greece, which focuses on promotion of education 
and training, and Lithuania and Latvia, which support capacity-building of (non-teaching) staff 
in public sector organisations, PES and NGOs.

The working-age population is the largest target group 
Generally, these activities are targeted towards the working age population, but also young 
NEETs (aged over 15 years old)3 are regularly targeted. Skills investments most often focus 
on persons in employment, and to a lesser extent on unemployed. Persons that are not active 
on the labour market are  least  often targeted  by skills  measures. More  specific  groups  are 
encountered  across  all  Member  States,  with  skills  measures  often  reaching  young  workers, 
young  NEETs,  as  well  as  vulnerable  groups,  such  as  migrants,  persons  from  marginalised 
groups and persons with disabilities.

This report does not include initial education, but does include vocational education and training (VET) and young NEETs, which can include youngsters 

3 
of 15 years and older. 

8

1  Introduction 

This report provides a comprehensive overview of investments in education, training and skills planned across the 
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)4, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Just Transition Fund (JTF) in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. The analysis was undertaken by the ESF+ Support Centre Team during the 
European Year of Skills5. It involved reviewing the approved programmes of these funds, which detail the investment 
strategy, specific financial allocations to priorities, targets, and descriptions of measures and target groups.

The review aimed to:

  Quantify the volume and share of investments planned for education, training and skills by country, and aggre-

gate these figures at EU level;

  Identify, where possible, the types of activities and target groups associated with the planned investments in 

skills across relevant priorities, programmes and Member States.

The types of investments to be included in the analysis were defined by their relevance to the European Year of 
Skills framework6. The framework focuses on addressing skills gaps and aiding the reskilling of individuals, with a 
particular emphasis on digital and green technology skills, targeting the working-age adult population (for reskilling 
and upskilling) but also labour market-focused education, training and skills more broadly. Thus, any measures that 
seemed to contribute to the objectives of the European Year of Skills were included in the analysis.

The following section details how findings were gathered, followed by an EU summary of those findings. The report 
also  includes  country  factsheets  that  provide  an  overview  of  the  findings  on  planned  investments  in  skills  and 
numbers of participants for each Member State. 

This report exclusively covers the shared management strand of the ESF+.
4 
5 
The European Year of Skills aims to address skills gaps in the European Union and boost the EU skills strategy, which will help reskill people with the 
focus on digital and green technology skills. The Year has started on 9 May 2023 and run for 12 months, with many actions and initiatives to be launched 
and promoted. After: https://year-of-skills.europa.eu/index_en [accessed on 11/04/2024].
6  Decision (EU) 2023/936 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on a European Year of Skills (Text with EEA relevance). 
Available at: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/936/oj [accessed on 11/04/2024].

9

Introduction 

Analytical approach
The quantified estimate of planned skills investments across the ESF+, ERDF and JTF had several steps (see Figure 1). 

Figure 1.  Methodology of analysis 

Step 1. Selection of priorities
The initial step involved compiling a ‘long-list’ of all relevant priorities that could potentially be related to skills7 (see 
Annex 1 for full list of selected intervention fields). Additionally, all measures allocated to the specific objectives of 
‘Adaptation of workers and enterprises to change’ (SO(d)) and ‘Lifelong learning and career transition’ (SO(g)) were 
selected  for  the  longlist,  irrespective  of  their  intervention  fields.  This  ensured  that  investments  in  these  specific 
objectives were not overlooked, even if they are programmed in out-of-scope intervention fields.

The analysis covered all relevant programmes adopted by the European Commission up to the beginning of January 
2024.  This  longlist  included  a  total  package  of  priorities  in  all  27  Member  States,  224  programmes  (103  pro-
grammes with ERDF investments, 155 programmes with ESF+ investments, 33 programmes with JTF investments8), 
equating to a total value of EUR 81.95 billion of investments across ESF+, ERDF and JTF (including EUR 68.3 billion 
in ESF+) selected for the in-depth review. 

Step 2. In-depth review of programme texts by human coders
A detailed qualitative review of the selected priorities was carried out by human coders, using a coding scheme 
piloted and agreed with the European Commission. The scheme included definitions, classifications, and guidance 
for coders (see Annex 3).

Based on the qualitative descriptions of activities, coders were tasked with estimating the share of activities/pro-
jects in each description that included a skills component. Where skills measures were identified, coders classified 
the type of measure and the foreseen target group(s). 

Estimating the share of activities/projects was an approximate measurement, as the descriptions of the activities 
do not indicate the size of budgets allocated to the types of activities. As a result, a certain margin of uncertainty in 
the results presented in this report cannot be avoided. Annex 2 presents in detail the approach and its limitations, 
within the context of how information on the content of programmes is stored and can be retrieved. 

This  review  also  provided  an  estimate  of  the  number  of  participants  foreseen  to  be  targeted  by  skills-related 
measures. The report includes two estimates on the number of participants:

  Upper-bound estimate: it assumes that all individuals included in the target will be reached by skills measures, 
regardless  of  the  share  of  the  total  estimated  budget.  It  was  derived  by  summing  all  targets  of  indicators 
measuring individuals in priorities where skills measures were identified. Targets for indicators beyond the scope 
of this analysis (e.g. (pre-) primary schoolchildren) were excluded. 

7 
Priority  axes  are  the  highest  level  of  hierarchy  in  programmes.  Within  priority  axes,  programmes  identify  specific  objectives,  according  to  fixed 
categories specified by the ESF+ Regulation. Within this level, separate financial allocations can be made to different intervention fields. This report refers 
to ‘priorities’ in the context of programmes, meaning the lowest hierarchical level, i.e. intervention fields within specific objectives within priority axes. 
8  Multi-fund programmes are common, thus the total number of programmes per fund is higher than the total number of programmes reviewed. 

10

  Lower-bound  estimate:  it  assumes  that  not  all  participants  targeted  by  interventions  in  priorities  with  skills 
activities are necessarily targeted by interventions focusing on skills. Accordingly, the estimated share of the 
budget addressing skills was used as a lower-bound estimate and applied to the estimated upper-bound esti-
mate (i.e. the aggregated output target for individuals at the level of individual priorities). This provides a more 
conservative estimate taking into account the focus on skills within the budget of each priority.

Annex 2 gives further details on the methodology used for estimating the financial share and participants’ share 
related to skills.

Step 3. Validation of estimates by managing authorities
The estimates produced by the previous steps were validated with managing authorities across the Member States. 
Brief summary factsheets were drawn up, with a detailed explanation of the methodological approach, and shared 
with Member States9. Their feedback was integrated and estimates adjusted accordingly. 

While our approach offers insights in the broad range of investments in ESF+, ERDF and JTF programmes in the field 
of skills, the following limitations need to be taken into account when reading the findings. 

Limitations of the approach

The overall financial estimates provided in this review need to be treated with caution. In most Member 
States, there is no concrete figure of the share of investments in skills. This study provides estimates 
based on the interpretation of the qualitative descriptions of the investments by the research team. The 
validation exercise that involved managing authorities served to ensure the validity of these estimates, but these 
still remain an approximation. 

This review took a two-step approach, as all programmes and priorities could not be covered.  While the meth-
odology was designed to ensure that its ‘long-list’ includes the most relevant priorities, we cannot guarantee 
that  no  skills  investments  take  place  outside  the  covered  intervention  fields.  In  ERDF  for  instance,  we  select 
only one intervention field relevant for investments in skills. Consequently, there might be cases where relevant 
investments were not included, for example, where infrastructural investments have a skills component that is 
not designed as such by a programme. 

The text descriptions provided by Member States in their programmes vary substantially in the level of detail 
that is provided on individual interventions. This means that certain breakdowns that could be desirable from a 
European policy perspective cannot be done, such as for instance a distinction between support for initial and 
continuing VET, or a more precise definition of the types of adult education that are supported.  

The tracking methodology, as explained in more detail in Annex 2, by the ESF+ regulation does not allow the level 
of granularity expected from this exercise even when looking at the intervention field level.

9  As  of  18  March  2024,  all  Member  States  had  provided  their  feedback,  with  total  estimates  adjusted  accordingly  to  the  feedback  received.  The 
exception was Italy and Portugal, whose estimates should therefore be read with caution.  

11

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of Skills2  European overview 
of cohesion funds’ 
investments in skills

This chapter presents an overview of the investments in skills at EU level. The results of the mapping are presented 
for all investment funds reviewed (ESF+, JTF, ERDF), as well as by individual fund.

2.1  Overview of European investment in skills through 

cohesion policy funding

An estimated EUR 44.2 billion of EU contributions to cohesion funds’ investments are supporting skills in the 2021-
2027 programming period for all 27 Member States. Most of these investments are found in ESF+ (EUR 40.4 billion, 
91.5% of the total estimated EU investment in skills), with remaining investments allocated to the JTF (EUR 2.3 bil-
lion, 5.2%) and ERDF (EUR 1.5 billion, 3.3%). Taking into account national co-financing across all Member States, the 
total investment in skills is estimated at EUR 67.7 billion.

Overall, 14.6% of all cohesion funds’ investments in ESF+/JTF/ERDF is dedicated to skills-related activities, with the 
largest shares in ESF+ (45.7% of total ESF+ investments), followed by the JTF (12.2% of JTF investments) and a 
small share of ERDF investments (0.7%). 

The  largest  shares  of  cohesion  funds  invested  in  skills-related  activities  are  in  Luxembourg  (35.1%),  Sweden 
(34.1%), the Netherlands (32.6%), Austria (31.0%), Denmark (30.7%) and Belgium (30.5%). 

The lowest shares of investments in skills-related activities are in Czechia (6.6%), Cyprus (9.2%), Croatia (8.6%), 
Lithuania (9.5%), Latvia (8.7%) and Romania (8.8%). Investments in skills in these Member States typically cover 
skills counselling, with working-age adults the main target group (with the exception of Latvia, which also focuses 
on entities). 

A  review  of  the  targets  defined  for  indicators  measuring  participation  in  the  interventions  programmed  in  skills 
suggests an expected 21.3 and 38.7 million participants in skills-related measures between 2021 and 2027. Almost 
all of these are foreseen in ESF+ programmes, as the participation targets for ERDF/JTF account for less than 2% 
of the total target10. The largest participation figures are in the programmes with the largest financial envelopes, 
notably  in  Italy  (anticipated  participation  between  4.5  and  9.7  million),  Spain  (between  4.8  and  8.2  million)  and 
Poland (between 2.0 and 4.4 million). 

10  An important caveat is that JTF/ERDF programmes tend to use different types of indicators for target-setting compared to ESF+, counting the number 
of companies, or the number of networks supported. This does not necessarily mean that these funds do not reach individuals as end-beneficiaries, but, 
rather, that the indicators do not necessarily capture them.

12

Table 1.  Overview of estimated investment in skills

Member 
State
AT
BE
BG
CY
CZ
DE
DK
EE
EL
ES
FI
FR
HR
HU
IE
IT*
LT
LU
LV
MT
NL
PL
PT*
RO
SE
SI
SK
EU-all funds
EU-ESF+
EU-JTF
EU-ERDF

EU funds 
for skills 
(EUR million)
 353.7 
 750.8 
 1 122.0 
 66.7 
 921.5 
 3 171.4 
 133.8 
 381.3 
 2 003.3 
 5 338.2 
 230.2 
 2 519.3 
 624.5 
 1 963.5 
 260.0 
 7 162.9 
 454.2 
 12.8 
 289.9 
 77.3 
 477.6 
 6 019.9 
 5 187.4 
 2 667.8 
 550.2 
 308.4 
 1 131.9 
 44 180.5 
 40 429.2 
 2 291.8 
 1 459.4 

Total funds  
(EU + Member State) 
for skills (EUR million)
 842.8 
 1 688.6 
 1 362.7 
 111.0 
 1 197.2 
 6 869.5 
 292.8 
 547.3 
 2 530.5 
 8 104.4 
 385.8 
 4 200.8 
 734.4 
 2 362.1 
 587.5 
 13 671.2 
 582.1 
 29.9 
 341.0 
 128.9 
 1 097.0 
 7 307.1 
 6 240.1 
 3 286.8 
 1 324.7 
 451.8 
 1 406.4 
 67 684.7 
 62 227.6 
 3 202.9 
 2 254.1 

% of all 
investments 
31.0%
30.5%
12.4%
9.2%
6.6%
17.7%
30.7%
13.5%
11.8%
16.0%
12.6%
15.0%
8.6%
10.6%
29.2%
19.4%
9.5%
35.1%
8.7%
13.5%
32.6%
9.6%
23.5%
8.8%
34.1%
12.8%
11.0%
14.6%
45.7%
12.2%
0.7%

Lower-bound 
participation 
target
 78 824 
 657 170 
 472 669 
 7 249 
 173 372 
 1 161 869 
 43 609 
 116 123 
 628 583 
 4 804 655 
 47 894 
 1 544 393 
 102 515 
 1 072 711 
 212 311 
 4 543 166 
 166 189 
 12 073 
 86 407 
 92 300 
 245 988 
 2 086 910 
 1 339 865 
 890 524 
 154 525 
 177 604 
 365 181 
21 284 676 
 20 948 079 
 192 425 
 144 172 

Upper-bound 
participation 
target
 88 296 
 934 400 
 923 586 
 10 810 
 399 625 
 1 766 648 
 59 000 
 135 729 
 977 791 
 8 223 497 
 128 164 
 4 326 973 
 265 438 
 1 191 882 
 342 833 
 9 745 621 
 522 411 
 13 603 
 112 950 
 106 662 
 366 211 
 4 390 881 
 1 446 593 
 1 186 630 
 195 282 
 238 544 
 601 440 
 38 701 500 
 38 031 991 
 456 938 
 212 571 

Notes: *Not validated by the Member State.
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform11.

Cohesion funds’ investments in skills usually focuses on counselling and training activities. This type of investment 
is found in at least one priority for every Member State. Support for training of private sector employees and support 
for  training  of  individuals  are  also  frequently  mentioned;  where  programmes  do  not  refer  to  employee  training, 
training of individuals tends to be included, and vice versa12. Member States allocating the largest portions of their 
funds to skills-related activities offer examples of such investments: 

  Skills counselling: Austria offers coaching and accompanying counselling to orient individuals in their profession-
al journeys. Services also include vocational assistance, advising on labour market entry, supporting vocational 
training, and aiding career development. The focus is on providing accessible, high-quality advice on general and 
vocational education, as well as on employment for adults. In Belgium, counselling services assist job seekers, 
especially those facing social disadvantages or barriers to employment. They include an initial individual assess-
ment interview to identify needs and define the type of support required, based on the individual’s personal and 

11  Cohesion Open Data Platform. Available at:  https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/cohesion_overview/21-27 [Accessed on 17/04/2024].
12  Note that the training of individuals may also cover employees; the distinguishing factor is that the type of training is open to all, as opposed to 
training offered by employers (private sector) or the public sector. See Annex 3 for a more detailed discussion of the differentiation between the different 
types of activities.

13

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsEuropean overview of cohesion funds’ investments in skills

professional situation. There are also projects allowing pupils and students coming near the end of their studies 
to discover the professional opportunities open to them.

  Training  of  individuals:  Denmark  provides  citizens  with  opportunities  to  acquire  education  and  enhance  their 
skills, including courses in entrepreneurship.  Luxembourg provides vocational training for job seekers in IT and 
digital tools; projects tailored to women returning to the workforce and young people entering the labour market; 
specific actions assisting refugees and those with migrant backgrounds in addressing their linguistic needs; and 
training for acquiring new skills relevant to the green transition, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, 
and decarbonisation. 

  Training of workers in the private sector: activities in the Netherlands stimulate the learning culture of the work-
force and companies leading to the competences needed for innovation at all levels. Further training is provided 
to  all  existing  employees  and  in  particular  industries  (steel).  Sweden  develops  skills  for  smart  specialisation, 
industrial transformation, entrepreneurship, and business adaptability. It aims to increase knowledge to better 
implement and use digitisation, automation and artificial intelligence (AI). 

Most Member States show comparable levels of attention to each of the main types of activities, but there are some 
differences: 
  Greece focuses on promotion of education and training for unemployed people, particularly for long-term unem-
ployed people, women, Roma, and third-country nationals. Support includes accessibility initiatives for students 
with disabilities, promotion of the social economy, and social entrepreneurship initiatives.

  The training of (non-teaching) staff in public sector organisations, public employment services (PES), non-gov-
ernmental organisations (NGOs), in the form of capacity-building is frequently mentioned in Latvia and Lithua-
nia. Latvia uses training to build capacity among various actors such as European Employment Services (EURES) 
advisors,  social  partners  and  civil  society  organisations  (CSOs)  to  strengthen  their  role  in  legislative  process 
and collective bargaining. To ensure that Latvian regions move towards a climate-neutral economy, support is 
planned to increase the skills and knowledge of local professionals from municipalities and regions. Lithuania 
supports health professionals and trade unions to increase the competences of occupational risk assessment 
and occupational risk supervision. 

Support for formal education is less common than for non-formal education and training13. Cohesion funds’ invest-
ments in formal VET are foreseen by 26 Member States, while 24 Member States invest in formal higher education. 
By contrast, non-formal training for individuals and workers is foreseen across all Member States. Notably, Estonia 
and Germany frequently reference VET activities in their programmes: 
  Estonia aims to increase the provision of continuing, vocational and higher education. This includes reforming the 
vocational qualification system to offer more versatile choices. The aim is to better align vocational and higher 
education with labour market needs. It is also working towards integrating digital competencies into higher and 
vocational education curricula. 

  Germany is enhancing its VET through innovative projects and digitalisation efforts with a focus on sustainability, 
part-time training models, and inter-company apprenticeships to boost quality and attractiveness. It supports 
continuing education, expanding training structures, and encouraging company involvement in VET and intern-
ships.  Efforts  to  ease  school-to-training  transitions  for  students  are  complemented  by  targeted  support  for 
prisoners and unemployed individuals, including those with refugee and migrant backgrounds. 

Some national-level investments are inspired by EU-level initiatives:
  Piloting individual learning accounts (ILAs)14 is mentioned in programmes of Cyprus, Germany, Estonia, Croatia, 
Greece, Italy, Hungary, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia. The continuing education courses financed in Germany, 
and the resulting certificates, can be understood as ‘micro-credentials’. In Hungary, ILAs are developed and im-
plemented based on the results of the Technical Support Instrument (TSI)15 project. The ESF+ programme intends 
to support the introduction of ILAs with more than EUR 5 million, depending on the outcome of the TSI project.
  Interventions in the micro-credentials16 system, with a view to innovation in education and training systems are 

planned in Member States such as Spain, Italy, Germany and Portugal:
  Training  of  Galician  (Spain)  employees  will  follow  a  micro-credentials  approach  that  allows  selective  and 

flexible acquisition of skills and competencies to satisfy the new and emerging needs of companies;

13  Support for general (formal) education is outside the scope of this review. 
14  Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on individual learning accounts (2022/C 243/03). Available at:  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/
TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32022H0627(03) [Accessed on 16/04/2024].
15  Technical Support Instrument (TSI). Available at: https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/technical-sup-
port-instrument/technical-support-instrument-tsi_en [Accessed on 17/04/2024].
16  Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability (2022/C 243/02). 
Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32022H0627(02) [Accessed on 16/04/2024].

14

  Four Italian regions (Sardegna, Veneto, Calabria, Basilicata) will test a micro-credentials system (in line with 
the Council Recommendation) for short training courses to bridge the gap between formal education and the 
needs of a society and evolving labour market. There are plans to develop a network of services to enhance 
learning  in  formal,  non-formal  and  informal  contexts,  the  certification  of  skills,  and  the  attestation  of  all 
learning, including through micro-credentials and digital badges;

  Short-term higher education courses in Portugal will be carried out by higher education institutions in collab-

oration with regional, public and private employers, to deepen the system of micro-credentials.

  In addition to the support offered by Erasmus+, Croatia and Greece utilise the ERDF and Bulgaria uses ESF+ to 

back their Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs)17.

  25  Member  States  invest  in  mobility  measures,  primarily  under  ESF+.  This  includes  the  Aim,  Learn,  Master, 
Achieve (ALMA)18 initiative and support for international labour mobility through the EURES Network19. Under 
the JTF and ERDF, only five Member States foresee mobility measures – these include investments in smart and 
sustainable local mobility (JTF), and cross-regional and international mobility of scientists and doctoral students 
or workers (ERDF). 

  In line with the European Skills Agenda20, Slovakia’s investments in skills support measures for developing VET 
align with the needs of Regional Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) domains. This 
includes creating and innovating study and teaching programmes, introducing new educational methods, providing 
infrastructure and equipment for practical teaching, engaging experts from relevant industries, promoting practical 
education, and fostering cooperation with companies.

Table 2.  Relative frequency of different types of activities

Legend: A darker shade of teal indicates that a particular action type is mentioned more frequently in that Member State compared to other action types.
Notes: (-) Activity is not explicitly mentioned in that Member State; *Not validated by the Member State.
Source: Coding based on the programme text.

17  Centres of Vocational Excellence. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1501 [Accessed on 17/04/2024].
18  ALMA. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1549&langId=en [Accessed on 17/04/2024].
19  EURES Targeted Mobility Scheme. Available at: https://eures.europa.eu/eures-services/eures-targeted-mobility-scheme_en [Accessed on 10/05/2024].
20  European Skills Agenda. Available at:  https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1223&langId=en [Accessed on 16/04/2024].

15

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsEuropean overview of cohesion funds’ investments in skills

A similar comparison was made for the target groups of the cohesion funds’ investments in skills. Table 3 shows 
target groups mentioned in programmes’ priorities with skills-related activities. 

The working-age population is mentioned as the target group of skill-related interventions by every Member State 
and in most specific objectives. Except Cyprus, all Member States mention working-age population as the target 
group of specific objectives on lifelong learning and career transitions. Italy targets these interventions at the work-
ing-age population regardless of their work placement, including citizens of other Member States and third-country 
nationals legally present in Italy, those over the age of 16, in a state of inactivity, unemployment and employment 
(both  dependent  and  self-employed).  Most  Member  States  (except  Sweden  and  Slovenia)  mention  working-age 
adults as the target group of activities in specific objectives on active inclusion and employability. In Spain, the skills 
interventions in this specific objective target a variety of working-age adults in vulnerable situations. These include 
people at risk of social exclusion, individuals with disabilities, migrants and ethnic minorities, and young people. 

Children under the age of 15 are less frequently mentioned in skills-related activities. Germany is among the 21 
Member States to identify children as a target group, particularly within the specific objective focusing on quality and 
inclusive education and training systems. The focus is on supporting their transition through the education system, 
ensuring that those with migrant background can overcome language barriers and providing additional support for 
those with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds (e.g. facing homelessness, or with caring responsibilities) 
to  retain  them  in  the  education  system  and  prepare  them  for  vocational  training  or  further  education.  Bulgaria 
includes a focus on children younger than 15 in the specific objective on integration of marginalised communities, 
such as Roma. Greece focuses on children younger than 15 in the specific objectives on active inclusion and employ-
ability, and improving education and training systems. 

Twenty-three Member States target young people in NEET situations. Poland targets young people most frequently 
in its specific objectives, including supporting young NEETs under the ALMA initiative21. In total, 15 Member States 
mention the ALMA initiative in their programmes (AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, EL, ES, HR, IT, LU, MT, PL, PT, SI, SK), thereby fo-
cusing on young NEETs. Young workers are mentioned as the target group of skills interventions in the programmes 
of all Member States except Demark. 

Retirees are mentioned only incidentally by 11 Member States (BG, DE, EE, EL, ES, HR, HU, PL, PT, SI, SK), particu-
larly in specific objectives on active inclusion and employability, access to employment and activation measures, 
adaptation of workers and enterprises to change. In 23 Member States, interventions are aimed at older workers of 
pre-retirement age.

In  all  Member  States  except  Luxembourg,  skills  measures  also  target  entities,  which  may  encompass  (govern-
ment) institutions, education and training providers, and enterprises in the private sector. In Finland, these include 
labour market partners, CSOs, municipalities, educational organisations, social and other companies, providers of 
art, welfare, social, health and rehabilitation, as well as education and counselling services, actors of the child wel-
fare cooperation network, research, development and innovation institutions and universities. Entities are primarily 
targeted under the JTF (20 Member States), ERDF (19 Member States) and specific objective on active inclusion and 
employability (18 Member States). Denmark largely targets entities under lifelong learning and career transitions, 
focusing on local educational institutions and taking a systematic and coordinated approach to upskilling and ed-
ucational institutions in order to promote occupational and sectoral mobility. Poland includes entities as a target 
group in the specific objectives on quality and inclusive education and training systems and adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change. An example is labour market institutions, for example those involved in qualifications 
and competences and the EURES services. Germany mainly targets entities under the specific objective on improving 
education and training systems, for example vocational schools. 

21  ALMA. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1549&langId=en [Accessed on 16/04/2024].

16

Table 3.  Relative frequency of different target groups

Legend: In each Member State, a darker shade of orange indicates that a particular target group type is mentioned more frequently compared to others.
Notes: (-) signifies that target group is not explicitly mentioned in that Member State; *Not validated by the Member State.
Source: Coding based on the programme text.

2.2  Estimated investment in skills – ESF+ 
An estimated EUR 40.4 billion of EU contributions to ESF+ investments support skills in the 2021-2027 program-
ming period for all 27 Member States. Together with national co-financing across all EU Member States, this means 
a total cohesion funds investment in skills of EUR 62.2 billion, or approximately 45.7% of the entire ESF+.

The largest ESF+ programmes enable the largest absolute cohesion funds’ investments in skills, with some relevant 
variation between Member States in the overall share of ESF+ investments dedicated to skills. The largest shares of 
funds invested in skills-related activities are in Denmark (88.7%), Austria (80.1%), Sweden (76.3%), the Netherlands 
(70.5%) and Portugal (68.2%). Comparatively, Croatia (30.1%), Greece (32.2%) and Cyprus (32.6%) allocate the 
lowest shares of their ESF+ budgets to the area of skills. 

17

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsEuropean overview of cohesion funds’ investments in skills

Table 4.  Overview of estimated ESF+ investment in skills

Member 
State
AT
BE
BG
CY
CZ
DE
DK
EE
EL
ES
FI
FR
HR
HU
IE
IT*
LT
LU
LV
MT
NL
PL
PT*
RO
SE
SI
SK
EU

EU funds 
for skills 
(EUR million)
 296.3 
 717.6 
 968.4 
 66.2 
 811.9 
 2 999.1 
 100.1 
 366.3 
 1 709.6 
 5 123.7 
 197.9 
 2 262.5 
 558.0 
 1 890.5 
 260.0 
 6 445.9 
 404.3 
 9.1 
 253.8 
 71.2 
 268.0 
 5 526.8 
 5 130.2 
 2 388.8 
 493.5 
 286.9 
 822.5 
 40 429.2 

Total funds  
(EU + Member State) 
for skills (EUR million)
 727.9 
 1 607.4 
 1 175.0 
 110.3 
 1 057.9 
 6 513.6 
 223.5 
 523.9 
 2 178.8 
 7 799.7 
 339.0 
 3 815.3 
 656.1 
 2 269.5 
 587.5 
 12 610.0 
 508.5 
 22.5 
 298.6 
 118.7 
 670.0 
 6 705.9 
 6 153.6 
 2 955.9 
 1 192.8 
 421.9 
 983.8 
 62 227.6 

% of all 
investments 
80.1%
57.8%
39.0%
32.6%
35.1%
50.6%
88.7%
71.8%
32.2%
49.1%
34.8%
36.1%
30.1%
37.3%
57.6%
45.9%
37.8%
66.2%
36.8%
61.7%
70.5%
44.8%
68.2%
34.4%
76.3%
44.9%
36.1%
45.7%

Lower-bound 
participation 
target
 65 824 
 656 957 
 468 628 
 7 241 
 172 877 
 1 149 042 
 39 529 
 103 276 
 592 612 
 4 801 217 
 47 812 
 1 449 937 
 87 184 
 1 066 711 
 212 311 
 4 521 435 
 116 906 
 8 368 
 85 112 
 92 300 
 230 000 
 2 072 994 
 1 339 808 
 877 330 
 152 644 
 175 632 
 354 391 
 20 948 079 

Upper-bound 
participation 
target
 75 296 
 932 699 
 905 827 
 9 380 
 392 539 
 1 742 066 
 46 400 
 112 029 
 926 123 
 8 207 477 
 126 954 
 4 208 903 
 238 350 
 1 179 882 
 342 833 
 9 714 006 
 461 400 
 9 898 
 107 461 
 106 662 
 317 000 
 4 273 503 
 1 445 869 
 1 140 868 
 191 881 
 233 018 
 583 667 
 38 031 991 

Notes: *Not validated by the Member State.
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

The focus on skills varies substantially across programmed cohesion funds’ investments for different specific objec-
tives. Investments to support lifelong learning and career transition (SO(g) – 85.4%) comprise the highest share of 
funds dedicated to skills, followed by investments supporting access to employment (SO(a) – 60.7%), and adapta-
tion to change (SO(d) – 61.2%), which underlines the importance of education and training to support labour market 
objectives. The relatively low share of investments in improving education and training systems (SO(e) – 56.3%) 
reflects that this review only covers investments in VET (and excludes investments in general education streams, 
which make up a considerable proportion of the remaining investment).  

Member States plan specific measures tailored to their needs and economic contexts to enhance VET opportunities. 
These include:  

  Adapting VET to the needs and expectations of young people and the labour market (BE, CY, EE, LU, PL, SK, SI).

  Reforms or further improvement of the vocational qualification system (EE, FR, SE).

  Support for social and relational inclusion of students with additional needs, i.e. students with disabilities, migrant 
or ethnic backgrounds, or from disadvantaged areas (BE, DE, EL, ES, HU, IT, LT, LV, PL). Hungary plans to develop 
the quality of Roma vocational college services. Several Member States offer scholarships or social and financial 
incentives to pupils of VET institutions (EL, ES, LT, PL). In two cases, digital solutions will be applied to promote the 
quality and accessibility of vocational education (LV, EL). 

18

  Provision of apprenticeships or internships (AT, CZ, DK, EL, FR, IT, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK), including in rare/dying 
out (FR, PL) and green (FR) professions. Several Member States integrate digital tools and science, technology, 
engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) skills in apprenticeships (BE, CZ, PL). 

  Prevention of early school/apprenticeship drop-out measures (DK, EL, ES, FR, HU).

  Improving  students’  language  (native  and  foreign)  skills  (EE,  EL,  ES,  IT,  HU,  PL)  and  key  social  competences 

related to the green or digital transition (DE, PL).

  Investments in school equipment for vocational education and professional equipment (FR) and digital transfor-

mation of VET (BG, PL), e.g. to offer distance vocational training (ES).

  Piloting education programmes and innovative initial vocational education and training projects (DE, HU, PL).

  Strengthening the link between schools and businesses (ES, FR, IT). Italy and France involve companies in de-
veloping  training  courses  and  internships,  particularly  in  strategic  sectors:  agro-processing,  tourism,  health, 
resources (biodiversity, waste, renewable energies), digital and in the blue and green economy sectors.

  Professional  training  for  adults,  including  jobseekers  (DE,  ES,  FR,  NL,  PL,  RO,  SI).  Poland  provides  vocational 
training to help people with (chronic or rare) illnesses, disabilities or mental health disorders to return to work. 
Germany offers low-threshold vocational preparation for young adults who are not yet ready for training.

  Workplace and dual learning (BE, DE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IE, IT). A range of vocational training courses are delivered 
through the Further Education and Training system in Ireland. Courses cover skills related to computer appli-
cations and software development, financial services, caring, driving, machine operation, electronics and retail. 
Croatia supports the capacities of economic entities to implement work-based learning in three-year vocational 
education programmes aimed at enabling the acquisition of practical skills necessary for work. 

  Development of accredited examination centres (HU) and CoVEs (BG).

Table 5.  Overview of estimated ESF+ investment in skills, by specific objective

Specific objective
SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
SO(b) Modernising labour 
market institutions
SO(c) Gender-balanced 
labour market participation
SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
SO(e) Improving education 
and training systems
SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
SO(g) Lifelong learning 
and career transition
SO(h) Active inclusion 
and employability
SO(i) Integration of third-
country nationals
SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
SO(l) Social integration 
of people at risk
SO(m) Addressing 
material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives

EU funds 
for skills 
(EUR million)
 11 674.8 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for skills 
(EUR million)
 17 706.8 

% of all 
invest-
ments 
60.7%

Lower-bound 
participation 
target
5 592 477 

Upper-bound 
participation 
target
 9 109 003 

 402.0 

 406.2 

 686.9 

39.8%

 13 666 

 28 024 

 711.9 

19.8%

 601 598 

 1 295 732 

 3 491.9 

 5 444.7 

61.2%

 2 036 689 

 3 066 48

 3 791.8 

 5 259.5 

56.3%

 1 627 369 

 2 060 268 

 7 646.1 

 11 459.2 

54.2%

 3 637 090 

 9 269 170 

 6 629.8 

 10 384.1 

85.4%

 5 083 596 

 5 613 724 

 5 149.3 

 8 677.3 

42.4%

 1 938 872 

 5 010 041 

 315.8 

 277.8 

 206.8 

 437.0 

 - 

 577.3 

50.1%

 159 750 

 402 648 

 360.6 

38.3%

 36 797 

 127 373 

 259.0 

1.6%

 100 295 

 566 073 

 700.4 

12.4%

 119 880 

 1 483 451 

 - 

0.0%

 - 

 - 

 40 429.2 

 62 227.6 

45.7%

20 948 079  38 031 991 

Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

19

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsEuropean overview of cohesion funds’ investments in skills

2.3  Estimated investments in skills – JTF 
An estimated EUR 2.3 billion of EU contributions to JTF investments support skills in the 2021-2027 programming 
period for all 27 Member States. Together with national co-financing across all EU Member States, this gives a total 
investment in skills of EUR 3.2 billion, or 12.2% of the entire budget available for JTF.

The review of JTF investments underlines the different approaches across Member States. For example, Malta and 
Ireland do not use the JTF to invest in skills, while the share of JTF investments dedicated to skills is relatively small 
in Cyprus (0.5%), Lithuania (2.1%), Estonia (2.6%), Slovenia (3.2%), Latvia (4.6%) and Croatia (5.6%). By contrast, 
Austria (42.0%), Luxembourg (41.0%), Denmark (30.0%), and the Netherlands (31.8%) have reserved substantial 
shares of the JTF programme for skills. 

JTF-funded interventions include:

  Training of workers (21 Member States: AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EL, ES, FR, HU, IT, LT, LV, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, 
SK). Spain prepares integrated action plans tailored to workers from companies affected by ecological transition 
or  digitalisation  processes.  Upskilling,  reskilling,  continuous  training  and  capacity-building  is  provided  to  help 
people in key sectors for economic diversification.

  Training of individuals (18 Member States: AT, BG, CY, DE, EL, ES, FI, FR, HR, IT, LU, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK). The 
Netherlands fosters a culture of continuous learning and development across the potential working population. 
Supports enhance the digital skills of employed individuals and jobseekers, responding proactively to the evolv-
ing requirements of the climate transition. This commitment is exemplified by measures dedicated to training 
young people in technology.

  Skills counselling (15 Member States: AT, BG, CZ, DE, DK, EE, EL, FR, HR, IT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SI). The Netherlands 
provides guidance for those who lost their jobs in the steel industry or who would like to find employment in 
green chemistry. Financed actions that contribute to sustainable and inclusive employability include job carving, 
job coaching, and life coaching. Austria supports measures to address the impact of decarbonising the economy, 
aiming to enhance workforce skills and create new job opportunities. These measures include career guidance 
and counselling for employees in transitioning industries, preparing job seekers for re-entry into the workforce, 
and offering training and upskilling programmes aligned with emerging sectors. 

  Formal VET (10 Member States: CZ, DE, EE, EL, ES, IT, NL, PL, RO, SK). Poland supports the development of key 
competences for a diversified economy, including internships for vocational school students. General and higher 
vocational education is developed and adapted to the needs of the labour market. Supports cover investment in 
infrastructure in science, STEM, vocational and technical and higher vocational education.

  Design and updating programmes (seven Member States: HR, IT, LU, NL, PL, SI, SK). Luxembourg uses the JTF 
to support actions for VET to meet the demands of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and decarbonisation 
goals. It emphasises upgrading and diversifying vocational training for businesses to align with the transition 
to green technologies. Actions include retraining the workforce in fossil fuel-based technologies, acquiring new 
skills for the green transition, and developing training content in sustainable construction, smart building, and 
electromobility. These measures aim to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges of achieving 
the EU’s climate targets.

  Training in subsidised employment (seven Member States: AT, BG, DE, EL, PL, PT, RO). Romania grants subsidies 
to employers who employ, for an indefinite period, unemployed people over 45 years of age, unemployed sole 
breadwinners, and long-term unemployed or NEET young people. Poland has business start-up grants for new 
enterprises.

  Promotion of education and training/reduction of barriers (six Member States: AT, DE, EL, ES, NL, RO). Member 
States plan to increase awareness of industrial transition and renewal (AT, ES), bolster environmental conscious-
ness (EL), and promote technology as an employer (NL). To mitigate barriers, Romania offers training premiums 
designed to cover costs associated with training, such as transport and meals.

  Formal higher education (six Member States: DK, EE, IT, NL, RO, SK). For example, Romania will support partner-

ships between universities/associations of renewable energy producers/companies.

  Other types of activities present in five or less Member States include: skills intelligence (five Member States: 
AT, DE, EL, LV, RO), mobility measures (five Member States: EE, NL, PL, PT, SK), training of teachers (four Member 
States: DE, EL, HR, PL), capacity building non-teaching staff (of public authorities, PES, NGOs) (three Member 
States: LV, PL, PT).

20

Table 6.  Overview of estimated JTF investment in skills, by Member State

Member 
State
AT
BE
BG
CY
CZ
DE
DK
EE
EL
ES
FI
FR
HR
HU
IE
IT*
LT
LU
LV
MT
NL
PL
PT*
RO
SE
SI
SK
EU

EU funds 
for skills 
(EUR million)
 57.4 
 23.6 
 136.6 
 0.5 
 68.2 
 130.1 
 25.6 
 9.0 
 238.2 
 141.0 
 30.1 
 237.7 
 10.0 
 48.0 
 - 
 233.0 
 5.5 
 3.7 
 8.5 
 - 
 190.8 
 378.9 
 17.5 
 243.3 
 15.1 
 8.0 
 31.7 
 2 291.8 

Total funds  
(EU + Member State) for 
skills (EUR million)
 114.9 
 59.1 
 167.1 
 0.7 
 80.2 
 238.3 
 51.2 
 14.8 
 282.0 
 196.1 
 43.0 
 354.2 
 11.7 
 56.5 
 - 
 274.1 
 6.4 
 7.4 
 10.0 
 - 
 381.6 
 459.7 
 22.8 
 286.2 
 30.2 
 9.4 
 45.2 
 3 202.9 

% of all 
investments 
42.0%
13.5%
11.9%
0.5%
4.3%
6.1%
30.0%
2.6%
18.0%
16.2%
6.7%
17.4%
5.6%
19.2%
0.0%
23.6%
2.1%
41.0%
4.6%
0.0%
31.8%
10.0%
7.7%
11.8%
10.1%
3.2%
7.2%
12.2%

Lower-bound 
participation 
target
 13 000 
 - 
 1 848 
 7 
 495 
 12 827 
 3 060 
 - 
 24 659 
 2 404 
 81 
 94 456 
 7 
 - 
 - 
 2 181 
 - 
 3 705 
 182 
 - 
 15 942 
 13 103 
 57 
 3 569 
 225 
 76 
 540 
 192 425 

Upper-bound 
participation 
target
 13 000 
 - 
 15 567 
 1 430 
 7 086 
 24 582 
 10 200 
 - 
 29 044 
 14 170 
 1 210 
 118 070 
 120 
 - 
 - 
 9 225 
 - 
 3 705 
 3 950 
 - 
 49 119 
 114 512 
 724 
 29 925 
 1 400 
 2 376 
 7 523 
 456 938 

Notes: *Not validated by the Member State.
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

2.4  Estimated investments in skills – ERDF 
An estimated EUR 1.5 billion of EU contributions to ERDF investments support skills in the 2021-2027 programming 
period for all 27 Member States. Together with national co-financing across all EU Member States, this gives a total 
investment in skills of EUR 2.3 billion, or 0.7% of the entire budget available for the ERDF in that timeframe.

Direct investments in skills-related activities take up a small share of the ERDF, which tends to focus on other 
types of investment, such as innovation, infrastructure, and specific themes such as energy-efficiency. More than 
half of the ERDF investments in skills are in Italy (EUR 787.1 million, 1.9% of its total ERDF budget) and Slovakia 
(EUR 377.4 million, 4.0% of its total ERDF budget). 

21

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsEuropean overview of cohesion funds’ investments in skills

Table 7.  Overview of estimated ERDF investment in skills, by Member State

Member 
State
AT
BE
BG
CY
CZ
DE
DK
EE
EL
ES
FI
FR
HR
HU
IE
IT*
LT
LU
LV
MT
NL
PL
PT*
RO
SE
SI
SK
EU

EU funds 
for skills 
(EUR million)
-
9.5
17.0
-
41.3
42.2
8.1
6.0
55.5
73.5
2.2
19.1
56.5
25.0
-
484.0
44.4
-
27.6
6.1
18.8
114.3
39.7
35.6
41.7
13.4
277.8
1 459.4

Total funds  
(EU + Member State) 
for skills (EUR million)
-
22.1
20.6
-
59.1
117.6
18.0
8.5
69.8
108.7
3.8
31.3
66.5
36.1
-
787.1
67.2
-
32.5
10.2
45.4
141.5
63.7
44.7
101.7
20.5
377.4
2 254.1

% of all 
investments 
0.0%
1.0%
0.3%
0.0%
0.4%
0.5%
3.4%
0.3%
0.5%
0.3%
0.3%
0.2%
1.1%
0.2%
0.0%
1.9%
1.5%
0.0%
1.1%
1.4%
3.7%
0.3%
0.4%
0.2%
5.0%
0.9%
4.0%
0.7%

Lower-bound 
participation 
target
-
213
2 192
-
-
-
1 019
12 847
11 312
1 033
-
-
15 325
6 000
-
19 550
49 283
-
1 113
-
46
813
-
9 625
1 656
1 896
10 250
144 172

Upper-bound 
participation 
target
-
1 701
2 192
-
-
-
2 400
23 700
22 624
1 850
-
-
26 968
12 000
-
22 390
61 011
-
1 539
-
92
2 866
-
15 837
2 001
3 150
10 250
212 571

Notes: *Not validated by the Member State.
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

ERDF investments in skills are almost entirely in the area of skills for smart specialisation (SO(a.iv) – EUR 1.7 billion, 
74%  of  skills  investments  in  ERDF),  with  some  attention  to  skills  in  research  and  innovation  capacities  (SO(a.i) 
– EUR 201.6 million) and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (SO(a.iii) – EUR 198.0 mil-
lion). The values in other specific objectives are typically individual activities with a minor skills component (see 
Annex 4 for estimated ERDF investments in skills, by specific objective and Member State).

In  Hungary,  the  ERDF  is  used  to  boost  the  alignment  of  skills  with  smart  specialisation  strategies  and  to  fulfil 
labour market requirements, supporting the development of institutional, corporate, and individual skills to meet the 
challenges of industrial transformation and the transition to a green, climate-neutral economy.

  Training of workers (23 Member States: BE, BG, CZ, DE, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, HR, HU, IT, LT, LV, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, 
SK). Poland supports the upskilling of SME workers in the area of smart specialisation to stimulate enterprise 
activity and development. This involves financing projects to upskill employees through training, courses, and 
studies,  particularly  in  smart  specialisation,  industrial  transformation,  and  entrepreneurship.  These  initiatives 
address regional labour market needs, enrich staff qualifications, and alleviate the shortage of skilled workers.

  Training of individuals (15 Member States: DK, EE, FR, HU, IT, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, SE, SI, SK). Malta provides mentor-
ing and training for the development of entrepreneurial skills, as well as skills related to the industrial transition.

  Design and updating of programmes (11 Member States: BE, DE, EE, ES, HU, IT, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK). Spain focuses 
on identifying and designing digital training programmes for companies. This includes training workshops and 

22

integrating new digital profiles into the workforce. Italy creates new university and postgraduate courses, as well 
as industrial doctoral programmes and doctorates in emerging technological sectors.

  Formal  higher  education  (10  Member  States:  DE,  FR,  HR,  IT,  LV,  NL,  PT,  RO,  SE,  SK).  Investments  include  de-
velopment  of  research  infrastructures  (FR)  and  bolstering  the  capacity  of  higher  education  institutions  (RO, 
PT),  strengthening  students’  and  PhD  researchers’  competencies  in  line  with  smart  specialisation  (HR,  IT,  NL, 
LV), support for application-oriented research activities at universities and research institutes (DE, SE, SK) and 
provision of short-term higher education courses (PT).

  Skills counselling (10 Member States: DE, EE, ES, FR, HR, IT, MT, NL, RO, SK). These activities include advice, con-
sultation and counselling as part of a support system to develop advanced and digital skills. Diagnostic services 
are offered, with individualised consulting to tailor support to specific needs.

  Other types of activities present in eight Member States or fewer include: promotion of education and training/
reduction of barriers (eight Member States: CZ, DE, EE, FR, NL, PL, PT, SE), formal VET (seven Member States: 
DE, FR, HR, IT, NL, PT, SK), skills intelligence (six Member States: CZ, HR, IT, PL, RO, SE), training in subsidised 
employment (five Member States: FR, HR, IT, NL, SK), mobility measures (five Member States: CZ, LT, LV, NL, PT), 
training of teachers (two Member States: RO, SK), capacity-building of non-teaching staff (public authorities, PES, 
NGOs) (two Member States: PL, SK).

Croatia and Greece use the ERDF to create CoVEs to promote skills for innovation and foster entrepreneurial culture 
at  all  levels  of  education  through  methods  such  as  student  cooperatives.  These  investments  are  line  with  the 
European Skills Agenda, which also encourages the establishment of CoVEs to develop local ‘skills ecosystems’ to 
provide high quality vocational skills to young people and adults.

Table 8.  Overview of estimated ERDF investment in skills, by specific objective

Specific objective
SO(a.i) Research and 
innovation capacities
SO(a.ii) Digitisation 
SO(a.iii) Competitiveness 
of SMEs
SO(a.iv) Skills for smart 
specialisation, transition 
and entrepreneurship
SO(a.v) Enhancing 
digital connectivity
SO(d.i) Access to quality 
employment
SO(d.ii) Equal access to 
inclusive and quality services
SO(d.iii) Socioeconomic 
inclusion of disadvantaged
SO(d.iv) Socioeconomic 
integration of third-
country nationals
SO(d.v) Equal access 
to health care
SO(d.vi) Enhancing 
the role of culture
SO(e.i) Integrated 
development in urban areas
SO(e.ii) Integrated development 
outside urban areas
ERDF – all specific objectives

EU funds 
for skills 
(EUR million)
 143.8 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for skills 
(EUR million)
 201.6 

% of all 
invest-
ments
0.4%

Lower-bound 
participation 
target
 88 

Upper-bound 
participation 
target
 4 578 

 6.6 
 112.4 

 10.5 
 198.0 

0.1%
0.5%

 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 

 1 085.2 

 1 666.3 

69.5%

 143 065 

 205 593 

 - 

 13.1 

 22.7 

 52.3 

 - 

 - 

 0.5 

 22.8 

 - 

 - 

0.0%

 18.3 

11.1%

 37.9 

0.5%

 66.5 

1.7%

 - 

 - 

0.0%

0.0%

 0.6 

0.0%

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 54.4 

0.3%

 1 019 

 2 400 

 - 

0.0%

 - 

 - 

 1 459.4 

 2 254.1 

0.7%

 144 172 

 212 571 

Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

23

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsEuropean overview of cohesion funds’ investments in skills

2.5  Conclusions
The in-depth analysis of the programmes for ESF+, ERDF and JTF conducted in preparation of this report shows 
how  an  estimated  EUR  44.2  billion  of  EU  contributions  are  earmarked  for  supporting  skills  in  the  2021-2027 
programming period for all 27 Member States. This underlines the relative importance of attention to skills in the 
programming phase of cohesion policy investment instruments.

As expected, attention to skills differs by the type of fund and Member States, in line with their overarching objec-
tives. Overall, 14.6% of all cohesion funds’ investments in ESF+/JTF/ERDF is dedicated to skills-related activities, 
with the largest shares in ESF+ (45.7% of total ESF+ investments), followed by the JTF (12.2% of JTF investments) 
and  a  small  share  of  ERDF  investments  (0.7%).  In  the  following  years  of  implementation  it  will  be  relevant  to 
monitor the extent to which these earmarked funds to the field of skills will also be used for this purpose. 

The most common activities foreseen for support by cohesion funds’ investments in skills usually focus on coun-
selling  and  training  activities.  This  type  of  investment  is  found  in  at  least  one  priority  for  every  Member  State. 
Noteworthy is also how support for formal education is less common than for education and training outside the 
domain  of  formal  qualifications.  Such  activities  tend  to  be  tailored  to  the  working-age  population,  with  specific 
attention to persons with specific vulnerabilities in line with the overarching programme objectives. 

24

3  Country factsheets 

25

Country factsheets 

3.1  Austria

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 842.8 million

An estimated EUR 353.7 million of EU investments in Austria are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 296.2 million, 
84%  of  the  total  estimated  EU  investment  in  skills),  with  the  remaining  investments 
allocated through the JTF (EUR 57.4 million, 16%). The ERDF does not include any funding 
for skills. Together with mandatory national co-financing, the total investments available in Austria specifically for 
skills under the ESF+/JTF programmes are estimated at EUR 842.8 million.

As a proportion of the total budgets in each fund, about 80% of the ESF+ is dedicated to skills and 42% of the JTF 
goes to skills-related activities. The largest estimated shares of investment in skills are in specific objectives focusing 
on lifelong learning and career transition (98%) and quality and inclusive education and training systems (92%). The 
latter represents the most substantial investment in skills in absolute terms, amounting to EUR 294.7 million.

Table 9.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Austria

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 - 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
 - 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
-

 - 
 14 146 765 
 - 

 - 
35 183 911 
 - 

 - 
 118 150 217 

 - 
294 777 063 

 78 042 641 
 85 926 577 
 - 
 - 

192 339 305 
205 611 603 
 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 
 - 
 296 266 200 
 57 440 845 
 - 

 - 
 - 
727 911 883 
114 881 690 
 - 

-
50%
-

-
92%

98%
72%
-
-

-

-
-
80%
42%
-

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate figures. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants: 

78 000 – 88 000

Based  on  an  analysis  of  programme  targets,  these  investments  in  skills  could  benefit  an  estimated  78  824  to 
88 296 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-used activities are training for individuals 
and  skills  counselling.  Most  activities  target  the  adult  working  population,  employed/self-employed  people,  and 
entities, followed by people with disabilities. 

26

3.2  Belgium

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 1 688.6 million

An estimated EUR 750.8 million of EU investments in Belgium are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 717.6 million, 
96% of the total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 23.6 million, 3%) and ERDF (EUR 9.5 million, 1%). Together with mandatory 
national  co-financing,  the  total  investments  available  in  Belgium  specifically  for  skills  under  the  ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 1 688.6 million.

As  a  proportion  of  the  total  budgets  in  each  fund,  the  estimated  investment  in  skills  is  highest  in  ESF+  (58%), 
followed by the JTF (13%) and ERDF (1%). The largest estimated share of investment in skills, and highest EU and 
national amount in absolute terms, is in lifelong learning and career transition, at an estimated EUR 855.9 million, 
or 100% of funding in this specific objective.

Table 10.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Belgium

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions

ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation

ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SOI Improving education and training systems

ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition

ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability

ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals

ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk

ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation

ESF+ – all specific objectives

JTF 

ERDF – all specific objectives

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
67 881 100

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
159 886 263

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
32%

0

-

0

-

8 620 534

20 626 224

-

-

53 294 793

119 481 564

384 453 084

855 940 243

203 376 813

451 455 999

-

-

0

0

0

-

-

0

0

0

717 626 324

1 607 390 293

23 643 149

9 531 574

59 107 873

22 129 620

0%

-

21%

-

45%

100%

51%

-

-

0%

0%

0%

58%

13%

1%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants: 

657 000 – 934 000 

Based on an analysis of the programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 657 170 to 
934 400 individuals over the course of the programming period. The activities are predominantly skills counselling, 
training for individuals, design and update of programmes. They target working-age population, unemployed and 
employed/self-employed people, including young and older workers, followed by other vulnerable positions on the 
labour market.

27

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.3  Bulgaria 

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 1 362.7 million 

An estimated EUR 1 122.0 million of EU investments in Bulgaria are supporting skills 
in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 968.4 million, 
86% of the total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 136.5 million, 12%) and ERDF (EUR 17.0 million, 2%). Together with mandatory 
national  co-financing,  the  total  investments  available  in  Bulgaria  specifically  for  skills  under  the  ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 1 362.7 million.

The estimated share of investments focusing on skills is highest in the ESF+ (39%), followed by the JTF (12%). 
The  ERDF  includes  marginal  funding  for  skills  (0.3%).  The  largest  estimated  share  of  investment  in  skills,  and 
highest EU and national amount in absolute terms, is in improving education and training systems, at an estimated 
EUR 359.4 million, or 100% of funding in this specific objective. 

Table 11.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Bulgaria

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour 
market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 291 328 448 

Total funds  
(EU + Member 
State) for  
skills (EUR)
 347 339 380 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
44%

 17 466 191 
 - 

 20 839 592 
 - 

 10 857 442 

 12 954 436 

 290 347 800 
 174 608 625 

 359 428 219 
 212 758 409 

 132 580 995 
 28 610 032 
 - 
 22 647 396 

 160 350 683 
 34 135 743 
 - 
 27 223 464 

 - 

 - 

 - 
 - 
 968 446 929 
 136 552 358 
 17 000 000 

 - 
 - 
1 175 029 925 
 167 057 481 
 20 647 253 

27%
-

13%

100%
48%

60%
25%
-
19%

-

-
-
39%
12%
0.3%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

472 000 – 923 000 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 472 669 to 
923  586  individuals  over  the  course  of  the  programming  period.  The  most-targeted  activities  are  training  for 
individuals and skills counselling, followed by mobility measures. Most activities target the adult working population, 
marginalised groups, unemployed, employed/self-employed people, and inactive people. 

28

3.4  Croatia 

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 734.4 million

An estimated EUR 624.5 million of EU investments in Croatia are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 557.9 million, 
89% of the total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the ERDF (EUR 56.5 million, 9%) and JTF (EUR 9.9 million, 2%). Together with mandatory 
national  co-financing,  the  total  investments  available  in  Croatia  specifically  for  skills  under  the  ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 734.4 million.

The estimated share of investments focusing on skills is highest in the ESF+ (30%), followed by the JTF (6%). The 
ERDF includes 1% funding for skills. The largest estimated shares of investment in skills are in specific objectives 
focusing on improving education and training systems, and on lifelong learning and career transition (each 100%). 
In  absolute  terms,  the  most  substantial  investments  in  skills  are  estimated  for  quality  and  inclusive  education 
and training systems (EUR 236.2 million), representing an estimated 43% of the total investments in this specific 
objective. 

Table 12.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Croatia

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SOI Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+I(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 137 437 500 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
161 691 177 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
25%

 13 068 750 
 - 
 - 

 15 375 000 
 - 
 - 

 96 900 000 
 200 770 000 

 114 000 000 
 236 200 001 

 28 900 000 
 35 487 500 
 1 912 500 
 4 287 500 

 34 000 000 
 41 750 000 
 2 250 000 
 4 750 000 

 39 206 250 

 46 125 000 

 - 
 - 
 557 970 000 
 9 987 065 
 56 548 428 

 - 
 - 
 656 141 178 
 11 749 488 
 66 527 562 

25%
-
-

100%
43%

100%
25%
25%
25%

9%

-
-
30%
6%
1%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

102 000 – 265 000 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 102 515 to 
265 438 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-used activities are skills counselling and 
training for individuals, followed by design and updating of programmes. The majority of skills investments target 
the adult working population, entities, and employed/self-employed people. 

29

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.5  Cyprus

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills:

EUR 111 million

An estimated EUR 66.7 million of EU investments in Cyprus are supporting skills in the 
2021-2027  programming  period.  Most  are  through  the  ESF+  (EUR  66.2  million,  99% 
of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through the JTF 
(EUR 0.5 million, 1%). The ERDF does not include any funding for skills. Together with mandatory 
national co-financing, the total investments available in Cyprus specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF programmes 
are estimated at EUR 111 million.
As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (33%). The 
ERDF includes marginal funding for skills (0.5%). The largest estimated share of investment in skills is in the specific 
objective focusing on active inclusion and employability (100%). In absolute terms, the most substantial estimated 
investments in skills are access to employment and activation measures (EUR 49.1 million, 81% of total investments 
in this specific objective) and improving education and training systems (EUR 37.8 million, 50% of total investments 
in the specific objective).

Table 13.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Cyprus

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
49 166 667

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
81%

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
29 500 000

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+SO (b) Modernising labour market institutions

ESF+ SOI Gender-balanced labour market participation

ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+I(e) Improving education and training systems

ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition

5 000 000

2 225 000

-

8 333 333

3 708 333

-

22 700 000

37 833 334

-

-

-

-

ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability

6 750 000

11 250 000

ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals

ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk

ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation

ESF+ – all specific objectives

JTF 

ERDF – all specific objectives

-

-

0

-

0

-

-

0

-

0

66 175 000

110 291 667

500 000

714 286

0

0

25%

36%

-

50%

-

-

100%

-

-

0%

-

0%

33%

1%

0%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures.
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

7 000 – 10 000 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 7 249 to 10 810 
individuals over the course of the programming period. The activities particularly focus on training individuals and 
provision  of  training  in  subsidised  employment.  The  activities  target  the  adult  working  population,  unemployed 
people, older workers, migrants, and people with disabilities.

30

3.6  Czechia

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills:

EUR 1 197.2 million

An estimated EUR 921.5 million of EU investments in Czechia are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 811.9 million, 
88% of the total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 68.2 million, 7%) and ERDF (EUR 41.3 million, 4%). Together with mandatory 
national  co-financing,  the  total  investments  available  in  Czechia  specifically  for  skills  under  the  ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 1 197.2 million.

As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (35%), 
followed by the JTF (4%) and ERDF (0.4%). 

The largest estimated share of investment in skills is in the specific objective on adaptation of workers and enter-
prises to change (77%). In absolute terms, the most substantial estimated investments in skills are for quality and 
inclusive education and training systems (EUR 279.7 million, representing an estimated 50% of total investments 
in this specific objective). 

Table 14.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Czechia

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
239 114 720

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
50%

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
183 484 680

0
14 390 955
138 512 944

0
18 754 096
180 508 171

174 744 930
214 697 297

227 721 617
279 786 175

5 600 799
23 379 301
-
57 121 950

7 298 770
30 239 182
-
74 439 395

0

0

-
0

-
0
811 932 859 1 057 862 125
80 248 426
59 093 408

68 211 162
41 341 051

0%
10%
77%

48%
50%

20%
6%
-
45%

0%

-
0%
35%
4%
0.4%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants: 

173 000 – 399 000 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 173 372 to 
399 625 individuals over the course of the programming period. The interventions focus on skills counselling for 
training individuals, followed by training for workers, and target the adult working population, employed/self-em-
ployed people, and entities. 

31

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.7  Denmark 

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills:

EUR 292.8 million

An estimated EUR 133.8 million of EU investments in Denmark are supporting skills 
in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 100.1 million, 
75% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 25.6 million, 25%) and ERDF (8.1 million, 6%). Together with mandatory na-
tional co-financing, the total investments available in Denmark specifically for skills under the ESF+/
JTF/ERDF programmes are estimated at EUR 292.8 million.
The estimated share of investments focusing on skills is highest in the ESF+ (89%), followed by the JTF (30%). 
The ERDF includes marginal funding for skills (3%). The specific objectives that allocate the largest part of their 
investments to skills are those focusing on improving education and training systems (100%) and lifelong learning 
and career transition (100%). 
The largest estimated shares of investment in skills are in specific objectives focusing on improving education and 
training systems, and on quality and inclusive education and training systems (100% each). In absolute terms, the 
most substantial investments in skills are estimated for lifelong learning and career transition (EUR 81.1 million), 
representing an estimated 81% of the total investments in this specific objective. 

Table 15.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Denmark

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
-

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
 - 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
-

-
-
-

 - 
 - 
 - 

27 654 127 
10 122 214 

 61 794 859 
 22 647 815 

36 354 471 
25 959 194 

100 090 006 
25 623 061 
8 053 691 

 81 145 986 
 57 942 925 
 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 
 - 
223 531 585 
 51 246 122 
 18 019 625 

-
-
-

100%
100%

81%
91%

89%
30%
3%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that  specific  objective,  the  estimated  volume  or  proportion  of  skills  investments  is  assessed  to  be  zero;  Annex  2  contains  a  detailed  explanation  of 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

43 000 – 59 000 

Based  on  an  analysis  of  programme  targets,  these  investments  in  skills  could  benefit  an  estimated  43  609  to 
59 000 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-used activity is training individuals and 
workers. Other frequently used activities are the promotion of skills counselling and training provided in subsidised 
employment. All funding in skills is channelled to support two target groups: entities and the adult working popu-
lation. 

32

3.8  Estonia

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills:

EUR 547.3 million

An estimated EUR 381.3 million of EU investments in Estonia are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 366.3 million, 
96% of the total estimated EU investment in skills), followed by the JTF (EUR 9.0 million, 
2%)  and  ERDF  (EUR  6.0  million,  2%).  Together  with  mandatory  national  co-financing,  the 
total  investments  available  in  Estonia  specifically  for  skills  under  ESF+/JTF/ERDF  programmes  are  estimated  at 
EUR 547.3 million.

About 72% of the ESF+ is dedicated to skills, while 3% of the JTF goes to skills-related activities. The ERDF includes 
marginal funding for skills, at 0.3%. 
The largest estimated share of investment in skills is in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and career 
transition (99%). In absolute terms, the most substantial investments in skills are aimed at improving education 
and training systems (EUR 175.1 million), representing an estimated 93% of the total investments in this specific 
objective. 

Table 16.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Estonia

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 41 197 703 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
States) for 
skills (EUR)
 58 921 150 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
75%

 - 
 - 
 19 025 000 

 - 
 - 
 27 209 646 

 122 452 451 
 - 

175 132 079 
 - 

 81 245 860 
 102 420 256 
 - 
 - 

116 198 216 
146 481 938 
 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 
 - 
 366 341 270 
 9 000 000 
 5 953 475 

 - 
 - 
523 943 029 
14 847 619 
 8 504 964 

-
-
50%

93%
 -

99%
91%
- 
- 

-

 -
 -
72%
3%
0.3%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

116 000 – 135 000 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 116 123 to 
135 729 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-used activities are education in training 
in formal VET, mobility measures, and skills counselling. The groups most frequently targeted by skills activities 
include the adult working population, entities, employed/self-employed people, and young workers.

33

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.9  Finland

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills:

EUR 385.8 million

An estimated EUR 230.2 million of EU investments in Finland are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 197.9 million, 
86% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 30.1 million, 13%) and ERDF (EUR 2.2 million, 1%). Together with mandatory 
national  co-financing,  the  total  investments  available  in  Finland  specifically  for  skills  under  the  ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 385.8 million.

About 35% of the ESF+ is dedicated to skills, while 7% of the JTF goes to skills-related activities. The ERDF includes 
marginal funding for skills, at 0.3%. 

The largest estimated share of investment in skills, and the highest EU and national amount in absolute terms, 
is in lifelong learning and career transition, at an estimated EUR 213.1 million, or 67% of funding in this specific 
objective.

Table 17.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Finland

Specific objective
ESF+SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

Total funds 
(EU+ Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
 64 797 728 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
20%

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 37 151 538 

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 

 122 390 704 
 38 392 780 
 - 
 - 

213 126 714 
 61 056 451 
 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 
 - 
 197 935 022 
 30 079 762 
 2 208 321 

 - 
 - 
338 980 893 
 42 971 088 
 3 803 575 

-
-
-

-
-

67%
20%
-
-

-

-
-
35%
7%
0.3%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

48 000 – 128 000 

Based  on  an  analysis  of  programme  targets,  these  investments  in  skills  could  benefit  an  estimated  47  894  to 
128  164  individuals  over  the  course  of  the  programming  period.  The  most-used  activities  are  skills  counselling 
and training for individuals, closely followed by designing and updating programmes. The majority of the target 
groups are covered by some level of skills funding, except retirees. The majority of the interventions target the adult 
working population and entities. Migrants and people with disabilities are also frequent target groups. 

34

3.10 France

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 4 200.8 million

An estimated EUR 2 519.3 million of EU investments in France are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 2 262.5 million, 
90% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 237.7 million, 9%) and ERDF (EUR 19.1million, 1%). Together with mandatory 
national co-financing, the total investments available in France specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF/ERDF pro-
grammes are estimated at EUR 4 200.8 million.
As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (36%), 
followed by the JTF (17%). The ERDF includes marginal funding for skills (0.2%). 
The largest estimated share of investment in skills is in specific objectives focusing on improving education and 
training  systems  (73%).  The  most  substantial  investments  in  skills  are  in  lifelong  learning  and  career  transition 
(EUR 1 765 million), representing an estimated 65% of the total investments in this specific objective. 

Table 18.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in France

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third- country nationals
ESF+SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 562 480 695 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
 952 057 650 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
40%

-
 4 042 316 
 1 980 373 

-
 6 463 248 
 3 025 141 

 134 040 169 
 245 737 431 

 199 220 327 
398 746 028 

 1 028 062 030 
 286 122 027 
-
-

1 765 591 161 
490 181 202 
-
-

-

-

-
-
 2 262 465 040 
 237 681 371 
 19 145 000 

-
-
 3 815 284 756 
 354 213 151 
 31 302 810 

-
15%
10%

73%
54%

65%
16%
-
-

-

-
-
36%
17%
0.2%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

1.5 million – 4.3 million

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 1 544 393 to 
4 326 973 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-used activities are skills counselling 
and training for individuals, closely followed by designing and updating programmes. Almost all target groups are 
covered  by  some  level  of  skills  funding,  except  retirees.  Skills  funding  is  most  likely  to  reach  the  adult  working 
population, unemployed people and young workers, followed by young NEETs, migrants, and people with disabilities. 

35

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.11 Germany

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 6 869.5 million

An  estimated  EUR  3  171.4  million  of  EU  investments  in  Germany  are  supporting 
skills in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are in ESF+ (EUR 2 999.1 million, 
95% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated to the JTF 
(EUR 130.1 million, 4%) and ERDF (EUR 42.2 million, 1%). Together with mandatory national 
co-financing, the total investments available in Germany specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF/ERDF programmes 
are estimated at EUR 6 869.5 million.
As a proportion of the total budgets in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (51%), 
followed by the JTF (6%) and ERDF (1%). 
The  largest  estimated  shares  of  investment  in  skills  are  in  specific  objectives  focusing  on  lifelong  learning  and 
career transition (77%) and improving education and training systems (67%). In absolute terms, the most substan-
tial investments in skills are estimated for active inclusion and employability (EUR 1 757 million), representing an 
estimated 52% of the total investments in this specific objective. 

Table 19.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Germany

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+SO (c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
321 634 333

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
50%

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
145 607 413

-
-
100 291 752
232 552 022
577 586 305 1 310 536 037

164 387 913
319 866 824
645 353 276 1 373 514 958

472 617 279
979 782 620
796 016 617 1 757 641 942
52 318 861
-

23 767 231
-

0

0

73 448 084
-

165 775 123
-
2 999 075 873 6 513 622 721
238 317 686
117 574 777

130 090 024
42 188 306

-
57%
44%

67%
54%

77%
52%
23%
-

0%

18%
-
51%
6%
1%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

1.1 million – 1.8 million

Based on an analysis of the targets set in the priorities, these investments in skills could reach an estimated 1 161 
869  to  1  766  648  individuals  over  the  course  of  the  programming  period.  The  interventions  mainly  provide  skills 
counselling, training for individuals and workers, and education and training in formal VET. Skills investment is most 
likely to reach the adult working population, unemployed people, employed/self-employed people, followed by entities, 
migrants, and other people in vulnerable positions on the labour market. 

36

3.12 Greece

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 2 530.5 million

An estimated EUR 2 003.3 million of EU investments in Greece are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 1 709.6 million, 
85% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 238.2 million, 12%) and ERDF (EUR 55.5 million, 3%). Together with mandatory 
national co-financing, the total investments available in Greece specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF/ERDF pro-
grammes are estimated at EUR 2 530.5 million.

As a proportion of the total budgets in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (32%), 
followed by the JTF (18%) and ERDF (1%). 

The  largest  estimated  shares  of  investment  in  skills  are  in  specific  objectives  focusing  on  lifelong  learning  and 
career transition (96%), adaptation of workers and enterprises to change (74%), and integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma (65%). In absolute terms, the most substantial investment in skills is estimated for 
access to employment and activation measures (EUR 801.5 million, 37% of investments in this specific objective) to 
reduce barriers to education and training, targeting the unemployed working age population. 

Table 20.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Greece

Specific objective
ESF+SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO (l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
801 557 530

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specif-
ic objective value
37%

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
638 471 967

9 786 319
4 783 343
226 309 054

12 502 774
5 936 286
291 387 167

292 928 257
122 098 155

374 238 340
158 478 983

210 130 853
75 616 542
48 160 280
24 787 483

266 362 197
96 686 487
68 069 838
32 671 203

95 000

190 000

56 466 852
0

70 684 541
0
1 709 634 109 2 178 765 347
281 969 317
69 811 055

238 196 600
55 493 668

22%
4%
74%

57%
23%

96%
33%
53%
65%

0%

38%
0%
32%
18%
1%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

628 000 – 977 000

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 628 583 to 
977 791 individuals over the course of the programming period. The interventions focus mainly on promotion of 
education  and  training  to  reduce  employment  barriers,  targeting  (predominantly  long-term)  unemployed  people, 
entities, and people with disabilities. 

37

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.13 Hungary

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 2 362.1 million 

An estimated EUR 1 963.5 million of EU investments in Hungary are supporting skills 
in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 1 890.5 mil-
lion, 96%), with the remainder allocated through the JTF (EUR 48.0 million, 2%) and 
ERDF  (EUR  25.0  million,  2%).  Together  with  mandatory  national  co-financing,  the  total 
investments available in Hungary specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF/ERDF programmes 
are estimated at EUR 2 362.1 million.
About  37%  of  the  ESF+  is  dedicated  to  skills,  while  19%  of  the  JTF  goes  to  skills-related  activities.  The  ERDF 
includes marginal funding for skills, at 0.2%. 
The largest estimated shares of investment in skills are in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and ca-
reer transition (100%) and quality and inclusive education and training systems (94%). In absolute terms, the most 
substantial investments in skills are estimated for access to employment and activation measures (EUR 796.6 mil-
lion), representing an estimated 86% of the total investments in this specific objective. 

Table 21.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Hungary

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third- country nationals
ESF+SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 677 175 572 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
 796 677 144 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
86%

 - 
 - 
 194 892 857 

 - 
 - 
 229 285 715 

 319 947 793 
 261 057 524 

 386 572 583 
 313 302 372 

 236 558 050 
 195 786 473 
 - 
 - 

 307 070 537 
 230 337 027 
 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 

 5 101 548 
 - 

 6 302 385 
 - 
1 890 519 817  2 269 547 763 
 56 480 183 
 36 113 586 

 48 008 155 
 24 965 336 

-
-
75%

16%
94%

100%
29%
-
-

-

2%
-
37%
19%
0.2%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

1.0 million – 1.2 million 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 1 072 711 to 
1 191 882 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most targeted activities are training for 
individuals, skills counselling, and capacity-building for non-teaching staff (public authorities, public employment 
services (PES), non-governmental organisations (NGOs)). All target groups are covered by some level of skills fund-
ing, but the majority of the programmes target the adult working population, particularly marginalised groups and 
people in vulnerable family situations, such as children and young adults under the age of 24, including Roma, and 
women caring for relatives. 

38

3.14 Ireland

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 587.5 million

An estimated EUR 260 million of EU investments in Ireland are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. These investments are all under the ESF+, as the 
JTF and ERDF do not include any funding  for  skills.  Together with mandatory  national 
co-financing, the total investments available in Ireland specifically for skills under the ESF+ 
programme are estimated at EUR 587.5 million.

About 58% of the ESF+ is dedicated to skills.

The largest estimated shares of investments in skills are in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and 
career transition and on the quality and inclusive education and training systems (100% each). In absolute terms, 
the most substantial investments in skills are estimated for social integration of people at risk (EUR 196.0 million), 
representing an estimated 60% of the total investments in this specific objective. 

Table 22.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Ireland

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO (h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 50 249 178 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
109 750 204 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
61%

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 52 864 002 

 - 
116 000 004 

 71 551 962 
 108 000 
 - 
 - 

165 426 653 
 270 000 
 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 

 85 224 829 
 - 
 259 997 972 
 - 
 - 

196 063 621 
 - 
587 510 481 
 - 
 - 

-
-
-

-
100%

100%
0%
-
-

-

60%
 -
58%
-
-

Note: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures.
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

212 000 – 342 000 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 212 311 to 
342 833 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-targeted activities are training for indi-
viduals and training provided in subsidised employment. The majority of the interventions target the adult working 
population, unemployed people, and people with disabilities. 

39

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.15 Italy22

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 13 671.2 million

An estimated EUR 7 162.9 million of EU investments in Italy are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 6 445.9 million, 
90% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 233.0 million, 3%) and ERDF (EUR 484.0 million, 7%). Together with mandatory 
national co-financing, the total investments available in Italy specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF/ERDF pro-
grammes are estimated at EUR 13 671.2 million.

About 46% of the ESF+ and 24% of the JTF is dedicated to skills. The ERDF includes 2% funding for skills. 

The largest estimated share of investment in skills is in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and career 
transition (94%). In absolute terms, the most substantial investments in skills are estimated for access to employ-
ment and activation measures (EUR 5 187 million), representing an estimated 75% of the total investments in this 
area. 

Table 23.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Italy

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
2 655 912 053 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
 5 187 037 366 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
75%

215 954 672 
 99 736 816 
 587 251 356 

 425 511 963 
 198 340 067 
 1 142 946 975 

 215 944 288 
1 436 662 708 

 398 279 843 
 2 760 391 413 

 595 982 313 
 578 504 926 
 38 674 601 
 8 316 433 

 1 107 104 355 
 1 228 617 123 
 112 125 007 
 24 149 999 

 12 992 828 

 25 509 878 

 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
6 445 932 992  12 610 013 990 
 274 095 314 
 787 095 126 

232 981 017 
484 023 999 

59%
16%
74%

53%
48%

94%
53%
75%
65%

-

-
-
46%
24%
2%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

4.5 million ‒ 9.7 million 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 4 543 166 to 
9 745 621 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-used activities are training individuals, 
skills counselling, and training workers, closely followed by training provided in subsidised employment. The majority 
of the interventions target the adult working population, particularly unemployed and inactive people, especially 
younger workers and migrants. 

22  Information not validated by the Member State.

40

3.16 Latvia

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 341 million

An estimated EUR 289.9 million of EU investments in Latvia are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 253.8 million, 
88% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through the 
ERDF (EUR 27 million, 10%) and JTF (EUR 8.5 million, 3%). Together with mandatory national 
co-financing, the total investments available in Latvia specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF/ERDF programmes 
are estimated at EUR 341 million.

About 37% of the ESF+ is dedicated to skills, while 5% of the JTF goes to skills-related activities. The ERDF includes 
1% funding for skills. 

The largest estimated share of investment in skills is in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and career 
transition (100%). In absolute terms, the most substantial investments in skills are estimated for access to em-
ployment and activation measures (EUR 106.9 million), representing an estimated 70% of the total investments in 
this area. 

Table 24.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Latvia

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
106 966 978 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
70%

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 90 921 931 

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
 - 

 70 532 138 
 16 768 424 

 82 978 986 
 19 727 557 

 51 689 803 
 21 005 306 
 - 
 - 

 60 811 533 
 24 712 125 
 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 

 2 880 637 
 - 
 253 798 239 
 8 473 234 
 27 605 030 

 3 388 984 
 - 
298 586 164 
 9 968 510 
 32 476 505 

-
-
-

47%
36%

100%
75%
-
-

-

3%
-
37%
5%
1%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform. 

Number of participants:  

86 000 – 112 000 

Based  on  an  analysis  of  programme  targets,  these  investments  in  skills  could  benefit  an  estimated  86  407  to 
112 950 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-used activities are training for workers, 
capacity-building for non-teaching staff (public authorities, PES, NGOs), and training for individuals. Most activities 
target the adult working population, entities, employed/self-employed people, young workers, migrants, and people 
with disabilities. 

41

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.17 Lithuania

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 582.1 million

An estimated EUR 454.2 million of EU investments in Lithuania are supporting skills 
in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 404.3 million, 
89% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the ERDF (EUR 44.4 million, 10%) and JTF (EUR 5.5 million, 1%). Together with mandatory 
national co-financing, the total investments available in Lithuania specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 582.1 million.
As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (38%), 
followed by the JTF (2%) and ERDF (1%). 
The largest estimated shares of investments in skills are in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and 
career transition (100%) and improving education and training systems (95%). In absolute terms, the most sub-
stantial investments in skills are estimated for access to employment and activation measures (EUR 237.9 million), 
representing an estimated 74% of the total investments in this area. 

Table 25.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Lithuania 

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
190 766 851

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
237 995 484

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
74%

-
-
-

-
-
-

74 562 105
15 071 902

97 655 601
18 654 813

64 499 975
16 928 693
-
-

81 063 906
21 706 707
-
-

42 456 164

51 462 004

-
0
404 285 690
5 450 000
44 416 700

-
0
508 538 515
6 411 765
67 168 162

-
-
-

95%
12%

100%
25%
-
-

10%

-
0%
38%
2%
1%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform. 

Number of participants:  

166 000 – 522 000

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 166 189 to 
522 411 individuals over the course of the programming period. The interventions particularly focus on training 
individuals  and  capacity-building  for  public  authorities,  PES  and  NGOs.  Skills  investment  mainly  focuses  on  the 
working population, then entities and employed/self-employed people, including young workers. Specific vulnerable 
groups targeted are marginalised groups (e.g. those leaving prison, low-skilled adults, people in poverty) and people 
with disabilities.

42

3.18 Luxembourg

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 29.9 million

An estimated EUR 12.8 million of EU investments in Luxembourg are supporting skills 
in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 9.1 million, 
71% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 3.7 million, 29%). The ERDF does not include any funding for skills. Together 
with mandatory national co-financing, the total investments available in Luxembourg specifically for skills under the 
ESF+/JTF programmes are estimated at EUR 29.9 million.

As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (66%), 
followed by the JTF (41%). 

The largest estimated shares of investments in skills are in specific objectives focusing on improving education and 
training systems (100%) and lifelong learning and career transition (100%). In absolute terms, the most substantial 
investments in skills are estimated for access to employment and activation measures (EUR 9.3 million, represent-
ing an estimated 71% of the total investments in this specific objective). 

Table 26.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Luxembourg

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transitions
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
3 797 486

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
9 306 390

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
71%

-
-
-

1 399 971
0

1 697 096
2 185 478
-
-

-
-
-

3 499 928
0

4 242 740
5 463 698
-
-

-

-

-
0
9 080 032
3 705 793
0

-
0
22 512 756
7 411 586
0

-
-
-

100%
0%

100%
56%
-
-

-

-
0%
66%
41%
0%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures.
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

12 000 – 13 000

Based  on  an  analysis  of  programme  targets,  these  investments  in  skills  could  benefit  an  estimated  12  073  to 
13 603 individuals over the course of the programming period. The activities focus mainly on skills counselling, 
training  for  the  adult  working  population,  and  vulnerable  groups.  The  most  frequently  targeted  groups  include 
migrants, older workers (and those unemployed and over the age of 40), and young workers (early school leavers). 

43

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.19 Malta

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 128.9 million

An  estimated  EUR  77.3  million  of  EU  investments  in  Malta  are  supporting  skills  in 
the  2021-2027  programming  period.  Most  are  through  the  ESF+  (EUR  71.2  million, 
92% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the ERDF (EUR 6.1 million, 8%). The JTF does not include any funding for skills. Together with 
mandatory national co-financing, the total investments available in Malta specifically for skills under the ESF+/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 128.9 million.
As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (62%), 
followed by the ERDF (1%). 
The largest estimated shares of EU investments in skills are in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and ca-
reer transition (100%), integration of third-country nationals (100%), and gender-balanced labour market participation 
(80%). In absolute terms, the most substantial investments in skills are estimated for quality and inclusive education 
and training systems (EUR 51.9 million, 75% of investments here). This specific objective targets young workers and 
students to improve their educational attainment, with a focus on higher education and advanced academic achieve-
ment to positively impact career mobility and outcomes. 

Table 27.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Malta

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
14 099 460

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
23 499 100

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
66%

 - 
 2 400 000 
 - 

 - 
 4 000 000 
 - 

 - 
31 171 357 

 - 
 51 952 262 

 12 000,000 
 10 650 000 
 900 000 
 - 

 20 000 000 
 17 750 000 
 1 500 000 
 - 

 0 

 0

 - 
 - 
 71 220 817 
 - 
 6 120 000 

 - 
 - 
 118 701 362 
 - 
 10 200 000 

-
80%
-

-
75%

100%
66%
100%
-

0%

-
0%
62%
0%
1%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

92 000 – 106 000 

Based  on  an  analysis  of  programme  targets,  these  investments  in  skills  could  benefit  an  estimated  92  300  to 
106 662 individuals over the course of the programming period. The activities mainly focus on training individuals, 
followed by skills intelligence for employed and unemployed people. The vulnerable groups most targeted include 
people with disabilities (persons with special needs, with a focus on students), young workers (mainly students and 
early school leavers), migrants, and older workers. 

44

3.20 The Netherlands

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 1 097.0 million

An  estimated  EUR  477.6  million  of  EU  investments  in  the  Netherlands  are  sup-
porting  skills  in  the  2021-2027  programming  period.  Most  are  through  the  ESF+ 
(EUR 268.0 million, 56% of total available EU investment in skills), with the remainder al-
located through the JTF (EUR 190.8 million, 40%) and ERDF (EUR 18.8 million, 4%). Together 
with mandatory national co-financing, the total investments available in the Netherlands specifically for skills under 
the ESF+/JTF/ERDF programmes are estimated at EUR 1 097.0 million.

About  71%  of  the  ESF+  is  dedicated  to  skills,  while  32%  of  the  JTF  goes  to  skills-related  activities.  The  ERDF 
includes 4% funding for skills. 

The largest estimated share of investment in skills, and highest EU and national amount in absolute terms, is for 
lifelong learning and career transition, at an estimated EUR 258.8 million, 100% of funding in this specific objective.

Table 28.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in the Netherlands

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 99 379 521 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
248 448 799 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
75%

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 

 103 532 749 
 65 099 403 
 - 
 - 

258 831 869 
162 748 504 
 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 
 - 
 268 011 673 
 190 778 709 
 18 841 199 

 - 
 - 
670 029 171 
381 557 423 
45 421 131 

-
-
-

-
-

100%
48%
-
-

-

-
-
71%
32%
4%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives.
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

245 000 – 366 000 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 245 988 to 
366 211 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-targeted activities are training workers 
and individuals, and skills counselling. Most of the interventions target the adult working population, entities, unem-
ployed people, and employed/self-employed people, particularly young workers.

45

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.21 Poland

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 7 307.1 million

An estimated EUR 6 019.9 million of EU investments in Poland are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 5 526.8 million, 
92% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 378.9 million, 6%) and ERDF (EUR 114.3 million, 2%). Together with mandatory 
national co-financing, the total investments available in Poland specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF/ERDF pro-
grammes are estimated at EUR 7 307.1 million.
As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (45%), 
followed by the JTF (10%). The ERDF includes marginal funding for skills (0.3%). 
The largest estimated shares of investments in skills are in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and ca-
reer transition (98%), improving education and training systems (88%), and adaptation of workers and enterprises 
to change (80%). In absolute terms, the most substantial investment in skills is estimated for lifelong learning and 
career transition (EUR 1 486.2 million), which primarily allocates funds to adult education across many regions in 
Poland.

Table 29.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Poland
Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
1 204 379 355

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
992 785 476

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specif-
ic objective value
57%

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

31 494 785
101 947 468
876 178 283

38 161 752
122 869 058
1 069 373 291

656 286 289
938 479 898

796 651 743
1 122 951 905

1 225 428 259
537 266 524
127 556 366
975 000

1 486 231 775
663 347 399
154 169 497
1 147 059

32 434 120

39 296 364

5 920 000
0
5 526 752 473
378 859 395
114 274 358

7 273 529
0
6 705 852 726
459 708 533
141 548 964

48%
12%
80%

88%
45%

98%
41%
49%
23%

2%

1%
0%
45%
10%
0.3%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

2.0 million – 4.3 million

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 2 086 910 to 
4 390 881 individuals over the course of the programming period. The interventions typically offer training for in-
dividuals and skills counselling for employed people. Activities focus on the adult working population, entities, and 
employed/self-employed people. The vulnerable groups targeted include those in a vulnerable position on the labour 
market (e.g. at-risk or scheduled for dismissal, people with low qualifications, working poor, homeless people), people 
with disabilities, migrants, people in vulnerable family situations, young workers, and marginalised groups (e.g. Roma, 
marginalised communities, people at-risk of social exclusion). 

46

3.22 Portugal23

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 6 240.1 million

An estimated EUR 5 187.4 million of EU investments in Portugal are supporting skills 
in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 5 130.2 mil-
lion, 99% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the ERDF (EUR 39.7 million, 0.7%) and JTF (EUR 17.5 million, 0.3%). Together with mandatory 
national  co-financing,  the  total  investments  available  in  Portugal  specifically  for  skills  under  the  ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 6 240.1 million.
As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (68%), 
followed by the JTF (8%). The ERDF includes marginal funding for skills (0.4%). 
The largest estimated shares of investment in skills are in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and ca-
reer transition (100%), quality and inclusive education and training systems (94%), and access to employment and 
activation measures (80%). The most substantial investment in skills in absolute terms is for quality and inclusive 
education and training systems, amounting to EUR 2 588 million.

Table 30.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Portugal

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
925 495 000

Total funds 
(EU+ Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
1 090 508 825

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
80%

-
12 750 000
401 578 636

-
15 000 000
559 133 305

-
2 192 635 959

-
2 588 150 151

819 625 000
742 350 000
-
-

979 325 982
879 397 060
-
-

35 750 000

42 058 824

-
0

-
-
5 130 184 596 6 153 574 147
22 835 068
63 694 304

17 511 887
39 745 000

-
34%
73%

-
94%

100%
71%
-
-

3%

-
0%
68%
8%
0.4%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

1.3 million – 1.4 million

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 1 339 865 to 
1 446 593 individuals over the course of the programming period. The interventions focus mainly on training indi-
viduals and workers. The skills interventions are for the working age population, unemployed people, and employed/
self-employed people. The vulnerable groups most targeted include people with disabilities, migrants, young NEETs, 
and young workers.

23  Information not the Member State.

47

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.23 Romania

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 3 286.8 million

An estimated EUR 2 667.8 million of EU investments in Romania are supporting skills 
in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 2 388.8 mil-
lion,  90%  of  the  total  estimated  investments  in  skills),  with  the  remainder  allocated 
through  the  JTF  (EUR  243.3  million,  9%)  and  ERDF  (EUR  35.6  million,  1%).  Together  with 
mandatory national co-financing, the total investments available in Romania specifically for skills under the ESF+/
JTF/ERDF programmes are estimated at EUR 3 286.8 million.
As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (34%) and 
JTF (12%). The ERDF includes marginal funding for skills (0.2%). 
The largest estimated shares of investments in skills are in specific objectives focusing on lifelong learning and 
career transition (96%), access to employment and activation measures (76%), and adaptation of workers and en-
terprises to change (75%). In absolute terms, the most substantial investments in skills are in access to employment 
and activation measures, amounting to EUR 1 418 million. 

Table 31.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Romania

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third- country nationals
ESF+SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
1 140 138 250 1 418 978 082

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
76%

30 064 950
18 775 000
57 004 000

36 870 679
22 301 218
67 063 530

332 221 529
278 185 000

408 629 240
341 273 456

457 686 633
11 500 000
15 000 000
10 000 000

568 830 822
15 770 975
17 647 059
11 094 737

38 243 162

47 400 506

0
0

0
0
2 388 818 525 2 955 860 303
286 238 374
44 722 507

243 302 618
35 637 006

10%
18%
75%

67%
39%

96%
32%
50%
16%

2%

0%
0%
34%
12%
0.2%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

0.8 million – 1.2 million

Based  on  an  analysis  of  programme  targets,  these  investments  in  skills  could  benefit  an  estimated  890  524  to 
1 186 630 individuals over the course of the programming period. The interventions typically offer skills counselling 
and training for workers. They also promote and reduce barriers to education and training. The interventions target the 
employed and self-employed adult working population. The most targeted vulnerable groups are marginalised groups 
and people with disabilities, followed by young and older workers. 

48

3.24 Slovakia

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 1 406.4 million

An estimated EUR 1 131.9 million of EU investments in Slovakia are supporting skills 
in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 822.5 million, 
73% of the total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the ERDF (EUR 277.8 million, 25%) and JTF (EUR 31.7 million, 3%). Together with mandatory 
national  co-financing,  the  total  investments  available  in  Slovakia  specifically  for  skills  under  the  ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 1 406.4 million.
As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (36%), 
followed by the JTF (7%) and ERDF (4%). 
The  largest  estimated  shares  of  investment  in  skills  are  in  specific  objectives  focusing  on  lifelong  learning  and 
career  transition  (100%),  adaptation  of  workers  and  enterprises  to  change  (92%),  integration  of  marginalised 
communities, such as Roma (75%), and modernising labour market institutions (75%). In absolute terms, the most 
substantial investments in skills are estimated for access to employment and activation measures (EUR 352.5 mil-
lion) and the integration of marginalised communities, such as Roma (EUR 152.9 million). 

Table 32.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Slovakia

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
295 322 829

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
352 559 674

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
46%

31 050 000
0
120 105 000

36 529 412
0
142 163 604

36 850 000
19 785 328

44 824 272
23 430 839

86 006 000
42 630 000
8 180 000
127 500 000

104 221 030
49 860 430
9 623 529
152 977 942

0

0

55 099 133
0
822 528 289
31 656 399
277 760 363

67 620 285
0
983 811 016
45 223 427
377 351 360

75%
0%
92%

26%
8%

100%
25%
50%
75%

0%

21%
0%
36%
7%
4%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

365 000 – 601 000

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 365 181 to 
601 440 individuals over the course of the programming period. The interventions mainly focus on skills counselling 
and training for individuals and workers. The interventions are typically for the adult working population and target 
a  range  of  vulnerable  groups,  including  migrants,  marginalised  groups,  people  with  disabilities,  and  those  in  a 
vulnerable position on the labour market (e.g. third-country nationals, students, asylum seekers, homeless people). 

49

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.25 Slovenia

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 451.8 million

An estimated EUR 308.4 million of EU investments in Slovenia are supporting skills 
in the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 286.9 million, 
93% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 8.0 million or 3%) and ERDF (EUR 13.4 million or 4%). Together with mandatory 
national  co-financing,  the  total  investments  available  in  Slovenia  specifically  for  skills  under  the  ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated are EUR 451.8 million.

About 45% of the ESF+ is dedicated to skills, while 3% of the JTF goes to skills-related activities. The ERDF includes 
1% funding for skills. 

The largest estimated shares of investment in skills are in specific objectives that focus on lifelong learning and ca-
reer transitions (100%) and modernising labour market institutions (75%). In absolute terms, the most substantial 
investment in skills is in improving education and training systems (EUR 112.5 million), representing an estimated 
52% of the total investments in this specific objective. 

Table 33.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Slovenia

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 78 663 752 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
States) for 
skills (EUR)
106 144 050 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
55%

 18 007 500 
 - 
 22 881 500 

 27 508 456 
 - 
34 331 177 

 71 040 950 
 - 

112 537 007 
 - 

 69 968 500 
 26 365 000 
 - 
 - 

103 477 132 
37 866 912 
 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 
 - 
 286 927 202 
 7 997 500 
 13 447 575 

 - 
 - 
421 864 734 
 9 408 824 
 20 495 945 

75%
-
73%

52%
-

100%
73%
-
-

-

-
-
45%
3%
1%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

177 000 – 238 000 

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 177 604 to 
238 544 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-targeted activities are training workers 
and individuals, and skills counselling. All target groups are covered by some level of skills funding, with funding 
almost equally weighted among the target groups. The main focus is on inactive people and younger workers. 

50

3.26 Spain

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 8 104.4 million

An estimated EUR 5 338.2 million of EU investments in Spain are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 5 123.7 million, 
96% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the JTF (EUR 141.0 million, 3%) and ERDF (EUR 73.5 million, 1%). Together with mandatory 
national co-financing, the total investments available in Spain specifically for skills under the ESF+/JTF/ERDF pro-
grammes are estimated at EUR 8 104.4 million.

About  49%  of  the  ESF+  is  dedicated  to  skills,  while  16%  of  the  JTF  goes  to  skills-related  activities.  The  ERDF 
includes marginal funding for skills (0.3%). 

The  largest  estimated  shares  of  investment  in  skills  are  in  specific  objectives  focusing  on  lifelong  learning  and 
career transitions (91%), improving education and training systems (84%), quality and access to employment and 
activation measures (60%). In absolute terms, the most substantial investment in skills are estimated for access to 
employment and activation measures, at EUR 3 420 million, 60% of investment in this specific objective. 

Table 34.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Spain

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives 
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives 

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
 2 223 654 096 

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for 
skills (EUR)
 3 420 538 373 

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
60%

 7 949 659 
 30 689 564 
 249 130 526 

 9 823 128 
 46 779 655 
354 184 392 

 686 827 721 
 618 539 159 

1 058 638 057 
1 006 963 269 

 105 912 094 
 978 984 334 
 51 696 641 
 22 132 117 

 136 047 900 
1 481 100 588 
74 607 410 
32 105 209 

 5 613 575 

6 964 500 

 142 620 138 
 - 

171 931 276 
 - 
5 123 749 623  7 799 683 757 
 196 059 453 
108 700 851 

 140 970 786 
 73 477 426 

22%
33%
47%

84%
48%

91%
41%
42%
23%

2%

19%
-
49%
 16%
0.3%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

4.8 million – 8.2 million

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 4 804 655 to 
8 223 497 individuals over the course of the programming period. The most-targeted activities are training for 
individuals, skills counselling, and training in subsidised employment. All target groups are covered by some level 
of skills funding, but the majority of the interventions target the adult working population, unemployed people, and 
young workers.

51

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsCountry factsheets 

3.27 Sweden

Total estimated cohesion funds investment in skills: 

EUR 1 324.7 million

An estimated EUR 550.2 million of EU investments in Sweden are supporting skills in 
the 2021-2027 programming period. Most are through the ESF+ (EUR 493.5 million, 
90% of total estimated EU investment in skills), with the remainder allocated through 
the ERDF (EUR 41.7 million, 8%) and JTF (EUR 15.1 million, 3%). Together with mandatory 
national  co-financing,  the  total  investments  available  in  Sweden  specifically  for  skills  under  the  ESF+/JTF/ERDF 
programmes are estimated at EUR 1 324.7 million.
As a proportion of the total budget in each fund, the estimated investment in skills is highest in the ESF+ (76%), 
followed by the JTF (10%) and ERDF (5%). 
The largest estimated shares of investment in skills are in specific objectives focusing on access to employment and 
activation measures (100%), lifelong learning and career transition (75%), and active inclusion and employability 
(71%). In absolute terms, the most substantial investments in skills are estimated for active inclusion and employ-
ability (EUR 473.9 million), allocated for interventions for those at risk of poverty or social exclusion, those outside 
the labour market due to unemployment, and those who have not yet established themselves in the labour market.

Table 35.  Overview of estimated investment in skills in Sweden

Specific objective
ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment 
and activation measures
ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market institutions
ESF+ SO(c) Gender-balanced labour market participation
ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers 
and enterprises to change
ESF+ SO€ Improving education and training systems
ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive 
education and training systems
ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career transition
ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third-country nationals
ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities, such as Roma
ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality 
social and healthcare services
ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
ESF+ – all specific objectives
JTF 
ERDF – all specific objectives

Total funds 
(EU + Member 
State) for skills 
(EUR)
237 831 248

% of total funds 
allocated to skills 
within total specific 
objective value
100%

EU funds for 
skills (EUR)
101 927 677

22 177 060
-
-

55 442 650
-
-

-
-

-
-

147 253 946
211 902 022
-
-

329 327 251
473 909 949
84 939 733
-

-

-

10 192 769
-
493 453 474
15 107 175
41 659 340

11 325 298
-
1 192 776 128
30 214 350
101 703 055

50%
-
-

-
-

75%
71%
100%
-

-

50%
-
76%
10%
5%

Notes: ‘-’ indicates that the Member State has not selected the specific objective; 0 or 0% signifies that although investments have been made towards 
that specific objective, the estimated volume or proportion of skills investments is assessed to be zero; Annex 2 contains a detailed explanation of the 
methodology used to estimate these figures; Annex 4 contains a breakdown of ERDF specific objectives. 
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

Number of participants:  

154 000 – 195 000

Based on an analysis of programme targets, these investments in skills could benefit an estimated 154 525 to 
195  282  individuals  over  the  course  of  the  programming  period.  The  interventions  focus  mainly  on  training  for 
workers, with activities typically targeting entities. Vulnerable groups that are most targeted include migrants (skills 
and competence development), marginalised groups (e.g. migrant women, Sami) and young workers.

52

Annex 1 Selected 
intervention fields

  023 Skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition (ERDF) 

  134 Measures to improve access to employment 

  135 Measures to promote access to employment of long-term unemployed 

  136 Specific support for youth employment and socioeconomic integration of young people 

  137 Support for self-employment and business start-ups 

  138 Support for social economy and social enterprises 

  139 Measures to modernise and strengthen labour market institutions and services to assess and anticipate 

skills needs and to ensure timely and tailor-made assistance 

  140 Support for labour market matching and transitions 

  141 Support for labour mobility 

  142 Measures to promote women’s labour market participation and reduce gender-based segregation in the 

labour market 

  145 Support for the development of digital skills 

  146 Support for adaptation of workers, enterprises and entrepreneurs to change 

  147 Measures encouraging active and healthy ageing 

  149 Support for primary to secondary education (excluding infrastructure) 

  150 Support for tertiary education (excluding infrastructure) 

  151 Support for adult education (excluding infrastructure) 

  152 Measures to promote equal opportunities and active participation in society 

  153 Pathways to integration and re-entry into employment for disadvantaged people 

  154 Measures to improve access of marginalised groups, such as the Roma, to education, employment and to 

promote their social inclusion 

  156 Specific actions to increase participation of third-country nationals in employment 

  157 Measures of social integration of third-country nationals 

Figure 2 presents the link between the funds, their specific objectives and the relevant intervention fields for this 
analysis.

53

Annex 1 Selected intervention fields

Figure 2.  Link between funds, specific objectives and intervention fields

Legend:
ESO4.1  ESF+ SO(a) Access to employment and 
activation measures 
ESO4.2  ESF+ SO(b) Modernising labour market 
institutions 
ESO4.3  ESF+ SO(c) Gender balanced labour market 
participation
ESO4.4  ESF+ SO(d) Adaptation of workers and 
enterprises to change
ESO4.5  ESF+ SO(e) Improving education and training 
systems
ESO4.6  ESF+ SO(f) Quality and inclusive education 
and training systems
ESO4.7  ESF+ SO(g) Lifelong learning and career 
transitions
ESO4.8  ESF+ SO(h) Active inclusion and employability
ESO4.9  ESF+ SO(i) Integration of third country 
nationals

ESO4.10 ESF+ SO(j) Integration of marginalised 
communities such as Roma
ESO4.11 ESF+ SO(k) Equal access to quality social and 
healthcare services
ESO4.12 ESF+ SO(l) Social integration of people at risk
ESO4.13 ESF+ SO(m) Addressing material deprivation
JSO8.1 Just Transition Fund
RSO1.1 Enhancing research and innovation
RSO1.2 Reaping the benefits of digitisation
RSO1.3 Growth and competitiveness of SMEs
RSO1.4 Skills for smart specialisation and transition
RSO4.1 Labour market infrastructure
RSO4.2 Education and training infrastructure
RSO4.3 Integration of marginalised communities
RSO4.6 Culture and sustainable tourism
RSO5.1 Integrated development in urban areas

54

Annex 2 Detailed 
analytical approach

The quantified estimate of planned skills investments across the ESF+, ERDF and JTF had several steps. 

Step 1. Selection of priorities
The initial step involved selecting all relevant priorities that could potentially be related to skills24. The full list of 
selected intervention fields is presented in Annex 1. Additionally, the mapping reviewed all priorities linked to the 
specific objectives of ‘Adaptation of workers and enterprises to change’ (SO(d)) and ‘Lifelong learning and career 
transition’ (SO(g)), irrespective of their intervention fields. This ensured that investments in these specific objectives 
were not overlooked, even if they are programmed in out-of-scope intervention fields.

The analysis covered all relevant programmes adopted by the European Commission up to the beginning of Jan-
uary  2024.  This  longlist  included  a  total  package  of  priorities  in  all  27  Member  States,  224  programmes  (103 
programmes with ERDF investments, 155 programmes with ESF+ investments and 33 programmes with JTF in-
vestments25), equating to a total value of EUR 81.95 billion of investment across the ESF+, ERDF and JTF (including 
EUR 68.3 billion in ESF+). 

ESF+/ERDF/JTF co-financed national or regional programmes are proposed by the Member States and approved 
by a Commission decision. Throughout the programming period, these programmes undergo regular assessments 
to evaluate their performance and achievements. Additionally, they evolve in response to the changing needs of 
the Member States and their citizens. This analysis covered all relevant programmes adopted by the European 
Commission up to the beginning of January 2024.

Step 2. Detailed review of programme texts by human 
coders
A detailed, targeted qualitative review of the selected priorities was carried out by human coders, using a coding 
scheme piloted and agreed with the European Commission. The scheme included definitions, classifications, and 
guidance for coders (see Annex 3).

The level of detail used to describe activities varies significantly across Member States and programmes. Coders 
were instructed to flag any activities about which they were uncertain. These were subsequently reviewed with 
managing authorities during the validation exercise.

The scope of the analytical support did not allow for additional documents to be reviewed (i.e. indicator method-
ologies, national legislation, planning documents). Rather, coders were limited to the content of text fields in the 
programmes.

24  Priority  axes  are  the  highest  level  of  hierarchy  in  programmes.  Within  priority  axes,  programmes  identify  specific  objectives,  according  to  fixed 
categories specified by the ESF+ Regulation. Within this level, separate financial allocations can be made to different intervention fields. Where this note 
refers to ‘priorities’ in the context of programmes, the lowest hierarchical level is meant, i.e. intervention fields within specific objectives within priority axes. 
25  Multi-fund programmes are common, thus the total number of programmes per fund is higher than the total number of programmes reviewed. 

55

Annex 2 Detailed analytical approach

The level of detail in which activities are described across Member States and programmes varies substantially. 
A pilot mapping showed that most contain detailed descriptions, providing a decent basis for identifying activities 
within the scope of the assignment and allow their classification according to a pre-defined codebook (see Annex 3). 
However, there are also instances where the descriptions of activities are insufficiently specific to follow this script: 
sometimes, descriptions remain very high-level, only referring to objectives or policy challenges, without detailing 
the types of activities foreseen. Coders were asked to flag such activities when in doubt, with those flagged activities 
later checked with managing authorities during the validation exercise.

Based on the qualitative description of activities, coders were asked to estimate the share of activities/projects in 
each description that included a skills component. Where skills measures were identified, coders classified the type 
of measure and the target group(s) foreseen. 

To support the coding exercise, coders used a spreadsheet with a full list of all priorities for review. The spreadsheet 
and subsequent coding took into account the different intervention fields that might be associated with a single 
specific objective. In many cases, the qualitative text allowed reconstruction of the allocation of budgets to (groups 
of) activities. Coders were asked to do this reconstruction where possible. If there was no obvious link (the descrip-
tion of activities is at one level higher, i.e. that of specific objective), the classification of qualitative text was applied 
equally to all related intervention fields.

Methodology for estimating the financial share related to skills

Based on the review of qualitative programme descriptions, coders estimated the share of activities focusing 
on skills. This was an approximate measurement, as the descriptions of the activities do not indicate the size of 
budgets allocated to the types of activities.

To aid the reader, we provide below a generic structure of multi-fund and single fund programmes.

This method avoids the pitfall of including all funds allocated to all priorities and paying only cursory attention 
to skills. Coders counted the number of relevant activities among the total activities mentioned and used this as 
the basis for an estimated share. This was rarely a precise count, as the level of detail provided by the Member 
State determines the number of activities mentioned. Rather than using exact percentages, coders used qualitative 
assessments: none – 0%; some – around 25%; half – around 50%; most – around 75%; all – 100%. 

This assessment was based on (i) the attempted quantification of activities, and (ii) a qualitative horizontal review of 
whether the estimate seemed warranted, based on the content of the text. This second part of the assessment was an 
important additional check to ensure that coders treated the estimate flexibly – for example, if the texts included some 
reference to scope (participants, coverage, length) that provide additional clues about its weight in the overall priority. 
Precise quantitative estimates were only used when provided by managing authorities during the validation phase (step 
3).

Methodology for estimating the participants share related to skills
The qualitative review of programme texts was also used to estimate the number of participants foreseen to be 
targeted by skills-related measures. This estimate was based on an aggregate of the targets of output indicators 
in  priorities  with  at  least  one  skills-related  activity.  For  the  aggregation,  all  output  indicators  with  targets  were 
screened for overlaps, selecting only unique indicator targets. It was not possible to simply sum the output targets 
because  programmes  often  define  multiple  indicators,  possibly  with  overlapping  target  groups  (e.g.  numbers  of 
unemployed and numbers of unemployed of a certain age group). 

Looking at all targets of all output indicators in selected specific objectives ensured complete coverage, but did 
not allow for the possibility that not all participants foreseen for that specific objective might be targeted with a 
skills-related activity. Accordingly, this was an upper-bound estimate. To account for the fact that not all participants 

56

may  be  targeted  for  skills  initiatives,  the  financial  estimate  was  used:  while  the  estimated  financial  size  of  an 
intervention might not necessarily determine the number of anticipated participants, it nevertheless provided an 
additional layer of information on possible numbers of targeted participants in each priority. The estimated share 
of financial investments was the basis for the lower-bound estimate of the number of participants, using financial 
estimates at the level of the specific objective. 

Presenting both an upper- and lower-bound estimate of the numbers of participants mitigated the downsides of 
both types of measures while still providing a meaningful range for the actual number of participants foreseen in 
programme related to skills activities. 

JTF  and  ERDF  programmes  tend  to  use  different  types  of  indicators  for  target-setting  to  the  ESF+,  i.e.  using 
numbers of companies or networks supported. This does not mean that these funds do not reach individuals as 
end-beneficiaries, but, rather, that the indicators used in these programmes do not necessarily capture this.

Step 3. Validation of estimates by managing authorities
The estimates produced from the previous steps were validated with managing authorities across all 27 Member 
States. Brief, summary factsheets were drawn up and shared with Member States, containing a detailed explanation 
of the methodological approach. Their feedback received was then integrated and estimates adjusted accordingly. 

As of 18 March 2024, Italy and Portugal had not validated their data and their estimates should therefore be 
read with caution.

57

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsAnnex 3 Coding scheme 

The tables below present the predefined codebook used by human coders to classify the qualitative descriptions of 
activities and target groups in ESF+, ERDF and JTF programmes.

Type of support

Definition

Examples

Education and training activities 
(specified by separate coding 
for education and training)

Design and/or updating of the 
structure of education and training 
programmes and qualifications

Promotion activities targeted at 
education and training, skills, etc.

Skills counselling and 
career guidance

See separate coding scheme 
for education and training

See separate coding scheme 
for education and training

Contribute to the structure/ content of 
education programmes, qualifications

Communication activities intended 
to increase attention for skills 
(learning, education and training, 
or specific programmes). This 
can also cover indirect measures, 
such as career guidance

Process that enables an individual, at 
any age and stage of life, to identify 
their capacities, competences and 
interests, to make well-informed 
education, training and occupational 
decisions, and to manage their life 
path in learning, work and other 
settings in which those capacities and 
competences are learned and used

Design and updating of qualifications, 
qualification frameworks, occupational 
and educational standards, 
including micro-credentials

Attractiveness campaigns for vocational 
education or specific programmes, 
promotion of science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics (STEM) 
careers for girls, skills competitions

Skills profiling, often done by guidance 
services or PES; skills documentation, 
including the development and 
use of e-skills portfolios; validation 
of skills by a competent authority 
(validation of non-formal and informal 
learning); education and career 
guidance (by PES, schools, etc.)

Skills intelligence (needs 
assessment and anticipation)

Actions of evaluating current and future 
skills needs in the labour market

Mapping/forecasting of future needs

Mobility 

Other

Support for workers to work in 
different sectors (sectoral) or 
Member States (geographical)

Anything related to skills 
not mentioned above

Measures that prepare and support 
workers to work in different sectors 
(sectoral) or Member States 
(geographical), such as recruitment, 
counselling, training, support, etc.

May include a variety of (horizontal) 
measures and policy initiatives, such 
as individual learning accounts, centres 
of vocational excellence, micro-
credentials, sector-specific initiatives/
other policy-level interventions, other

58

Type of education and training Definition

Examples

Formal education and training 
– vocational upper-secondary or 
post-secondary education and 
training (including work-based 
learning and apprenticeships)

Understood as all vocational education 
programmes at International Standard 
Classification of Education (ISCED) 
levels 2 to 4, or European Qualifications 
Framework (EQF) levels 2 to 4

Initial/continuing vocational education

Formal education and 
training – tertiary education

Understood as all programmes at 
ISCED levels 5 to 8, or EQF levels 6 
to 8. This includes programmes that 
build on (post-)secondary education, 
providing learning activities in 
specialised fields at a high level of 
complexity and specialisation

Commonly understood as academic 
(higher) education, but may also 
include advanced vocational 
or professional education

Formal education and training – 
other levels/level not specified

Other

Training through subsidised 
employment

Measures that support subsidised 
employment as a means of gaining 
work experience and skills

Training of workers (private sector)

Training staff to improve their skills 
(generally occupation-related)

Training staff in public/
non-profit sector

Training teachers

Training for individuals 

Training staff to improve the 
provision of a relevant skills-related 
service (capacity-building of public 
authorities, PES, NGOs, education 
providers (excluding teachers, which 
are a separate category), other)

Support for capacity-building of 
the (teaching) staff (public/private 
training providers, NGOs, other).

May include education at other levels 
not mentioned above, or general 
education without a labour market focus 

Youth employment measures that 
incentivise hiring, provided there is some 
kind of skills component. Measures 
for protected long-term employment 
(social economy) are not included

Largely concerns (re-)training 
existing staff. It does not include 
formal apprenticeships (these 
are a separate category)

Training PES staff to improve service 
delivery, capacity-building of NGO 
to activate individuals, etc.

Training teachers 

Any form of adult learning that supports 
individuals to enrol in some form 
of learning (may cover employees, 
unemployed people or inactive people)

May include adult learning focused 
on basic skills; digital/ green skills; 
cultural courses for migrants, 
active citizenship courses, etc.

59

An in-depth overview of the EU cohesion funds’ investments in skills in the context of the European Year of SkillsAnnex 3 Coding scheme 

Classifications for target groups 

Target group by age 
  Adult working age population directly (15-64 years old)
  Institutions
  Persons younger than 15 years of age
  Retirees

Target group by economic status
  Unemployed people 
  (Self-)employed people
  Inactive people (in education, or not looking for a job for other reasons)

Specific types of groups 
  Young workers
  Young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs)
  Older workers
  Migrants
  Marginalised groups
  People with a disability/disabilities
  People in vulnerable positions because of their family situation
  Other vulnerable positions on the labour market

60

Annex 4 Skills investments 
in ERDF specific 
objectives, by country

Table 36.  Overview of estimated ERDF investment in skills, 
by specific objective and Member State, EUR million

SO(a.i) / Policy 
Objective 1 
Research and 
innovation 
capacities
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 30.5 
 17.5 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 12.9 
 11.5 
 - 
 - 
 6.0 
 - 
 - 
 3.0 
 - 
 1.9 
 118.2 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 201.6 

SO(a.ii) 
/ Policy 
Objective1 
Digitisation
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 9.2 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 1.3 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 10.5 

SO(a.iii) /  
Policy  
Objective 1  
SME compe-
titiveness 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 15.5 
 60.4 
 - 
 0.2 
 - 
 87.6 
 3.8 
 12.8 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 4.0 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 10.2 
 - 
 3.5 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 198.0 

SO(a.iv) /  
Policy Objective 
1  
Skills for smart 
specialisation
 - 
 10.8 
 20.6 
 - 
 13.1 
 39.7 
 - 
 8.3 
 69.8 
 7.6 
 - 
 5.6 
 55.1 
 31.9 
 - 
 760.5 
 67.2 
 - 
 26.1 
 - 
 7.8 
 19.2 
 58.6 
 44.7 
 101.7 
 20.5 
 297.6 
 1 666.3 

Policy 
Objective 4 – 
A more social 
and inclusive 
Europe
 - 
 11.3 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 4.3 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 4.3 
 - 
 15.9 
 - 
 - 
 2.1 
 - 
 - 
 0.6 
 5.1 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 79.7 
 123.3 

Policy 
Objective 5 – 
Sustainable 
and integrate 
development
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 18.0 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 0.7 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 35.7 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 54.4 

Member 
State
AT
BE
BG
CY
CZ
DE
DK
EE
EL
ES
FI
FR
HR
HU
IE
IT*
LT
LU
LV
MT
NL
PL
PT*
RO
SE
SI
SK
EU

Notes: *Not validated by the Member State.
Source: Coding based on programme text and Cohesion Open Data Platform.

61

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