FIEC: How can we improve skills for the construction industry in Europe?

As Europe accelerates its green and digital transitions, the construction industry must adapt to new technologies, sustainability demands and workforce shortages. Addressing these challenges requires strategic investments in skills and training. Two major EU initiatives, the Pact for Skills and the Union of Skills are at the forefront of this transformation, ensuring that Europe’s construction workforce has necessary skills for the future.

Pact for Skills in Construction

Launched in February 2022 by FIEC, EFBWW, and EBC, the Pact for Skills in Construction is a key initiative under the European Skills Agenda that brings together public and private actors to invest in training, upskilling, and reskilling. Its main objective is to ensure that training programs align with the industry’s needs, particularly in the areas of circular economy, energy efficiency, and digitalisation. The goal is to train at least 30% of the workforce annually by 2030.

As reaffirmed in the Union of Skills Communication in 2025, the European Commission emphasises the Pact’s role in supporting strategic sectors. The Pact is aligned with major EU strategies, such as the Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the Preparedness Union Strategy, reinforcing its significance for the future of the construction workforce.

Union of Skills

On 5th March, the European Commission published a Communication on the Union of Skills. This initiative was announced in July 2024 by President von der Leyen when she presented her priorities for the next European Commission. The initiative is built around four key strands that are building skills for quality jobs; upskilling and reskilling; circulating skills with the free movement of people across the EU; and attracting, developing and retaining talent. This keeps the issue of skills at the core of the EU policies.

While the construction industry faces a lack of attractiveness and labour and skills shortages, the Union of Skills will provide several solutions. First of all, this initiative aims to increase the attractiveness, excellence and inclusiveness of Vocational Education and Training (VET) through a European Strategy for VET expected for 2026. To facilitate and increase the mobility of workers and learners across the EU, the European Commission will improve the recognition of qualification (through the Skills Portability Initiative) and strengthen Erasmus+. Finally, the Union of Skills will be a lever to new investments in education and skills.

Construction Blueprint 2

Building on the success of the first project, Construction Blueprint 2 is a four-year Erasmus+ project coordinated by Fundación Laboral de la Construcción in Spain. The initiative brings together a consortium of 20 partners, including universities, training centres and social partners working to develop and implement a strategy that will address the emerging skills needs in the construction industry, with a particular focus on digitalisation, green skills, and new technologies. A core objective of Construction Blueprint 2 is to create a long-term strategy for skills development that integrates sustainability, digitalisation and energy efficiency into construction training. By improving cooperation between education providers and industry stakeholders, the project helps ensure that training programs remain relevant and responsive to the evolving market landscape.

Initiatives like the Pact for Skills, the Union of Skills and Construction Blueprint 2 are not only addressing the issue of labour shortages but also ensuring that the construction workforce has the adequate skills for the future. Collaboration between the public and private sectors for further investments in upskilling, reskilling, and mobility will be essential to ensure that the sector remains competitive and attractive in the future.