European Union Member States have been making a steady progress in meeting the bloc’s targets for vocational education and training (VET) and lifelong learning, but some objectives still pose a major challenge.
Under its post-2020 strategy for VET and lifelong learning, the EU has set several ambitious statistical targets. In 15 Data insights, Cedefop outlines the EU’s progress to date, and the overall picture is positive despite persistent challenges.
On the plus side, employment prospects for recent initial VET (IVET) graduates are good and improving. In 2022, their average employment rate was around 79.7%, near to the 82% target by 2025, set by the 2020 Council Recommendation on VET.
Educational attainment in the EU also continues to rise. Early school leaving in the EU was down to 9.6% in 2022, close to the target of less than 9% by 2030, set by the 2021 Council Resolution on the European Education Area (EEA).
Further, in 2022, some 42% of 25 to 34-year-olds had a tertiary level qualification, approaching the 45% target for 2025, set by the same Council Resolution.
Despite demand for new skills, raising adult participation in lifelong learning continues to be difficult. The 2021 Council Resolution on the EEA set a target of 45% of adults participating in lifelong learning in the previous 12 months by 2025. The 2021 European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan increases this to 60% by 2030. Estimates put adult participation in lifelong learning at around 39.5% in 2022, well below the target figures.
In 2021, the EU average of adults aged 16 to 74 with at least basic digital skills was estimated at 53.9%. This is well below the targets of 70% by 2025, set by the 2020 European skills agenda, and the 80% by 2030, under the 2021 European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan.
For a comprehensive comparative statistical snapshot of EU and Member State progress towards their education and training and related targets for 2025-30, check out Cedefop’s 15 Data insights, as well as its Key indicators on VET and European VET policy dashboard.
