The Skills Guarantee is a new tool to help boost the competitiveness of the European economy. It helps workers in sectors undergoing restructuring transition into new jobs in companies in growing and strategic sectors by offering re-skilling and up-skilling measures, on-the-job training and employment support.
The Skills Guarantee is planned to be implemented under the future European Competitiveness Fund. A pilot call was launched under the Social Innovation Plus initiative under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
The pilot tests innovative job-to-job transition delivery mechanisms, aiming at identifying avenues to accelerate such transitions.
Who will benefit from the Skills Guarantee?
Workers- Workers in declining sectors who are at risk of unemployment will be supported to transition into new jobs in strategic or growing sectors
- Workers can benefit from re-skilling and up-skilling, on-the-job training and other support to learn new and additional skills
- Smooth job transitions help ensure financial stability by maintaining a continuous income
Companies- Companies in growing and strategic sectors will be able to recruit the workers they need more quickly. This helps the companies grow and boosts their
competitiveness - They will benefit from an efficient solution to fill the gaps and overcome shortages of workers that possess the skills sought after
- Companies in growing and strategic sectors will be able to recruit the workers they need more quickly. This helps the companies grow and boosts their
EU countries and regions- The Skills Guarantee supports the development of strategic sectors, contributing to growth, competitiveness and economic sustainability
- It will allow workers to transition from one job to another, without falling into unemployment. This lowers the pressure on public budgets
Projects under the pilot call
In July 2026, the European Commission has launched the six pilot projects to help workers in the car industry who are at risk of losing their jobs. With a budget of €14.5 million, the pilots will support almost 1 000 workers to move into stable jobs in growing or strategic sectors.
Partners in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Slovakia will run the projects.
PATHWORK – Building Job-to-Job Employment Pathways through a Skills Guarantee Mechanism for Automotive Workers
(Poland, Slovakia)
Piloting a Skills Guarantee for Job-to-Job Transitions from the Automotive Sector to Growing Industries in Greece and Cyprus
(Greece, Cyprus)
Transition Bridge – Industrial Automotive Cluster: From Stuttgart to EU (ACT Bridge)
(Germany, Austria)
GreenSHIFT Europe
(Romania, Greece)
DEMANDS-AUTO: Skills validation, onboarding support and retention for automotive workers in transition
(Italy, Romania, Belgium, Greece, Bulgaria)
A Digital Skills-First Employment Enabler of Inter-Sectoral Job Transitions for Automotive Workers through Micro-Credential-Supported Job Matching (DIODOS)
(Greece, Italy)
What the pilot projects will do
The projects will
- test new ways to identify skills needs
- offer personalised training in line with real labour market needs in growing and strategic sectors
- focus on training that is accessible, relevant and tailored to different learners by removing barriers to training
- bring together training providers, public authorities and employers
- support job-to-job transitions into growing and strategic sectors
How is the pilot implemented?
Models led by social partners or companies, implemented through cooperation between companies or consortia of companies
Models led by Public Employment Services or other public authorities
Public-private partnerships
Who are the partners?
Companies
Public Employment Services and other public authorities at national or regional level
Social partners
Education and training providers
Other stakeholders
What is the total budget?
The pilot has a budget of €14,5 million under the European Social Fund Plus.
