A dedicated Skills Alliance session took place in December 2025 during the German Platform for the Reconstruction in Ukraine in Berlin, bringing together 88 partners from governments, international organisations, civil society and the private sector. The session focused on addressing skills shortages and advancing the Dual Intent approach — combining the integration of Ukrainians in host countries with practical pathways for return and engagement in Ukraine’s economic recovery.

During the session, the Skills Alliance presented the latest results of the partnership:

• €1.1 billion in total commitments from Alliance members
• 535,000 people have already upgraded their skills through these investments
• A further 585,000 people are expected to benefit by 2027

Policy solutions and long-term approaches

The first Skills Alliance panel focused on policy responses and long-term strategies to address labour shortages. Discussions covered:

• the current state of Ukraine’s labour market and short-term forecasts;
• the most in-demand skills across key sectors;
• government policy priorities to mitigate workforce shortages;
• the role of Ukrainians abroad as a labour potential for recovery and growth;
• how the Dual Intent approach can serve both Ukraine’s needs and European labour markets.

From policy to practice: implementing Dual Intent

The second panel explored the practical implementation of the Dual Intent approach and concrete cooperation tools between the government, employment services, businesses and civil society initiatives. Participants discussed measures already in place or under preparation in Ukraine to support economic development, programmes addressing employers’ skills needs, and opportunities for returning Ukrainians to contribute to recovery through employment and reskilling.

“Ukraine’s economic recovery depends on people and skills. That is why we are focusing on expanding labour-market participation, developing digital services for employers and workers, and strengthening modern competencies. The Dual Intent approach allows us to support the integration of Ukrainians abroad while also creating clear pathways for return and meaningful engagement in Ukraine’s recovery,”
said Dariia Marchak, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine emphasises that the shortage of skilled workers remains one of the key constraints for businesses and a major barrier to recovery. Priority areas include broader labour-market inclusion, digitalisation of employment services, and skills development aligned with emerging jobs and economic needs.

The Skills Alliance for Ukraine is a multi-stakeholder partnership launched at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin in response to Ukraine’s acute skills shortage caused by war-related displacement, demographic change, military conscription and damage to education and training infrastructure. Initiated by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Alliance brings together 88 partners and has mobilised €1.1 billion in commitments to support vocational education and training, re- and upskilling in Ukraine and for Ukrainians abroad. To date, 535,000 people have already improved their skills through Alliance-supported initiatives, with a further 585,000 expected by 2027, contributing to labour-market inclusion, public–private cooperation and alignment with EU standards in line with the EU-Ukraine Facility and Ukraine’s EU accession pathway.