Over €19.9 Million in EU Support to Be Available for Skills Development and Qualification of Employed Persons in the Regions
More than €19.9 million will be available to support the skills development and qualification of employed persons in Latvia's regions, funded by the European Union’s Just Transition Fund (JTF). The available support will help regional residents adapt to the changing labour market needs caused by the green transition of the economy. This is provided for in the regulations prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science, approved by the government on June 17.
The support is intended for residents of the Vidzeme, Latgale, Zemgale, and Kurzeme regions to improve skills and obtain professional qualifications, with implementation planned until November 30, 2029. It is necessary to assist in adapting to the labour market needs arising from the green transition and to prepare specialists in short-cycle education programmes—especially work-based learning formats—in line with the economic transformation directions of the regions most affected by the shift to a climate-neutral economy.
The programme is expected to support 5,560 employed individuals, including 1,610 young people not in education or employment. At least half of the modular vocational education programme modules or module sets will be delivered as work-based learning, either at a company or under a craftsperson.
Funding will support skill development and the acquisition of qualifications—particularly through work-based learning—in sectors such as:
Agriculture
Peat extraction
Electricity, gas supply, heating, and air conditioning
Water supply, wastewater and waste management
Transport
These sectors have been identified in the Territorial Just Transition Plan as Latvia’s major greenhouse gas emitters, where substantial transformation towards climate neutrality is needed.
Individuals will register for training via the platform www.stars.gov.lv using their Individual Learning Account.
Planned EU investments in skills development in these sectors are expected to promote economic growth in the regions, and—considering the “green” restructuring of companies (e.g. use of environmentally friendly vehicles and production equipment, horticulture seedling cultivation, tree growing, berry processing and production)—will create long-term employment opportunities.
Training needs at the profession and skills level will be determined by the Joint Adult Education Coordination Committee, established by the Ministry of Economics. The State Education Development Agency, the main funding recipient for this programme, will cooperate with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, which has regional offices, to assess training needs.
Additional support will also be available to reduce barriers to participation in adult education, including:
Personal assistants, occupational therapists, and sign language interpreters for persons with disabilities
Regional mobility support
Rental of dormitories or other housing during studies
Childcare services during study periods (for children under 7 or children with disabilities)
Targeted scholarships for youth not in education or employment
Support for employed persons with low-income or disadvantaged status to participate in vocational continuing education programmes
Cabinet of Ministers Regulations “Eiropas Savienības kohēzijas politikas programmas 2021.–2027. gadam 6.1.1. specifiskā atbalsta mērķa “Pārejas uz klimatneitralitāti radīto ekonomisko, sociālo un vides seku mazināšana visvairāk skartajos reģionos” 6.1.1.5. pasākuma “Nodarbināto prasmju paaugstināšana un atbalsts kvalifikācijas iegūšanai, atbalsts darbaspēka mācībām saskaņā ar uzņēmumu pieprasījumu” accessible via the Cabinet of Ministers’ official website
