EU funding for skills and employment: RRF and Cohesion Policy

The employment and skills landscape across EU Member States has been profoundly impacted not only by rapid developments in European economies, digitalisation and the shift towards climate neutrality, but also by the race for global competitiveness and the necessary transformations in European industry. 

To address these challenges, the EU has developed a suite of programmes, with a significant portion of funding being allocated through national channels via the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and Cohesion Policy funds.

Skills and employment investments under the RRF

Job creation, education and skills are intrinsic to reforms and investments under several RRF pillars, including smart and inclusive growth, social and territorial cohesion, and policies for the next generation. As such, they are a transversal theme of Member States' National Recovery and Resilience Plans, which propose reforms supporting, among others, modernisation of labour market institutions and adaptation of adult learning systems, as well as in investments leading to job creation or participation in skilling and re-skilling programmes.

In Greece, for example, approximately €20 million in RRF funds are currently being disbursed to private enterprises and universities to jointly conduct industrial PhD programmes, where the PhD student is simultaneously employed by the participating company and enrolled at the university. 

Skills and employment investments under Cohesion Policy

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Just Transition Fund are the main funds supporting investments for education, skills, employment, and labour market interventions under Cohesion Policy.

By way of example, in the French Centre-Val de Loire region, almost €78 million in ESF+ funds are disbursed by the Regional Council to support life-long learning initiatives, in line with the objectives of the Regional Skills Programme.

How we can help