The president emphasises that "in such a rapidly changing labour market, we need to support people throughout their working lives" and that we must "better align the needs of our economy with the talents of our younger population".

School of Industrial Organization, Madrid

Speech by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, at the event 'Vocational Training: Driving a Country Forward' (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

Speech by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, at the event 'Vocational Training: Driving a Country Forward' (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, announced that the Council of Ministers has approved a "historic investment" of €234 million in vocational training, "aimed particularly at workers and strategic sectors of our economy". On the one hand, €107 million is allocated "to train workers in public centres across the country, help them obtain new professional qualifications and pay particular attention to those who are most vulnerable". And on the other, "€126 million to boost training in sectors where we know there is a shortage of professionals: construction; heritage, cultural and sustainable tourism; security, the environment and road transport".

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, together with the Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Milagros Tolón, at the event| Pool Moncloa/ Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

During his speech at the event 'Vocational Training: Driving a Country Forward', the President of the Government of Spain pointed out that "in a labour market that is changing so rapidly, we must support people throughout their working lives". This is the goal of the approved investment, which targets those who have already been working for years and need to update their skills, specialise or advance professionally.

An initiative which, as the head of the Executive explained, reflects a reality with which we are all familiar: "We have more than 22.5 million national insurance contributors, more than 10 million of whom are women, and Spain is creating half of all new jobs in the European Union, yet we continue to hear from professionals and businesses who tell us: "I need to recruit, but I can't find anyone." "That is where vocational training must step in: providing practical training, linking the needs of our businesses - and therefore our economy - with the talent that abounds amongst our younger population." "That is what it means to invest in vocational training; that is how we raise the profile of vocational training." And that also means investing in Spain's future and present", he added.

A vocational training student shows her completed project to the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez| Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Pedro Sánchez pointed out that whilst eight years ago, studying vocational training in our country "was a rarity", "today vocational training is Plan A, not Plan B, for a great many young people in our country". Firstly, "because vocational training is synonymous with quality and employment: the courses are better, the pathways are more flexible and the link to the labour market is much more direct". "That is why, 'since 2018, the number of students enrolled has risen by 46 per cent, to over 1.2 million'", he said. Secondly, because today "there is a wider range on offer, it is more appealing and reaches more places. Since 2018, we have created more than 400,000 new vocational training places and allocated more than €800 million to the regional governments", he said. In short, "we have not only expanded vocational training, but we have also brought it closer to the people", he emphasised.

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Milagros Tolón, during her speech at the event| Pool Moncloa/ Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

For her part, the Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Milagros Tolón, pledged that the Government will continue to "drive forward the transformation we began with the reform of the Vocational Training Act" and "we will do so by guaranteeing the quality of institutions through legislation and, above all, through greater investment". "We will continue to expand opportunities, ensuring high-quality provision and making sure that vocational training responds ever more effectively to the needs of our business sector and supports workers throughout their lives", she emphasised.