A Commission staff working document accompanying a report to the Council, published on 14 July 2026, assesses the implementation of the 2020 Council Recommendation on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience. The report covers Member State reforms and EU-level actions from 2020 to 2025, revealing that the EU average for VET graduates exposed to work-based learning reached 66.0% in 2025, exceeding the 60% target. However, the employment rate of recent VET graduates (aged 20-34) stood at 80.2% in 2025, close to but below the 82% target, while VET mobility remains far behind, with only 2.1% in 2021 against an 8% target; a new 12% target was set for 2030, with an estimate of 5.3% in 2023.
The report is based on national implementation plans from all Member States except Czechia and Ireland, plus Cedefop analysis of about 450 policy developments. Wide variation across Member States persists: countries like the Netherlands (95.4%), France (93.2%), and Germany (93.0%) far exceed work-based learning targets, while Romania (9.1%), Czechia (15.2%), and Italy (22.0%) remain well below. The Herning Declaration, endorsed in September 2025 by Member States, candidate countries, EEA countries, social partners, and the Commission, sets the framework for the 2026-2030 period.
VET graduates benefit from improved employability where work-based learning is strong, but those in low-performing countries face limited opportunities. EU businesses in high-performing countries gain a skilled workforce, while those in lagging regions may struggle with skills shortages. National authorities in low-performing Member States face pressure to reform VET systems, potentially requiring investment in apprenticeship schemes. The European Commission and Cedefop will continue monitoring and supporting reforms, with the Council expected to discuss the report and possibly update the recommendation based on findings. The report highlights trade-offs between flexibility for Member States to tailor VET to local needs and the EU's goal of convergence, as voluntary targets have not closed the gap between leaders and laggards.