European Union initiates initiative to boost internet utilization within education and professional development.
Italy's Fondo Nuove Competenze 3 (New Skills Fund 3) is making waves in the country's job market, providing a much-needed boost to continuous vocational training for workers. The fund, launched with an initial budget of €731 million, is aimed at upskilling and reskilling workers in priority areas such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, ecological transition, and the green economy [1][3].
The initiative has generated extensive interest, with over 23,000 applications received between February and April 2025. These applications span various business types, including more than 10,000 from individual enterprises, nearly 2,000 companies in business networks, and hundreds of firms within large corporate training systems [1]. It is expected to involve over 1 million workers, including seasonal workers and recent hires [1].
For small and very small enterprises, this fund is particularly significant. It provides financial and administrative support that enables these businesses to engage actively in continuous training, which might otherwise be unaffordable or difficult to organise. The fund’s reimbursement mechanism makes continuous education more accessible for these smaller firms, which are critical to Italy's economy but often face challenges in addressing the skill demands of a rapidly evolving labour market [1].
The Fondo Nuove Competenze 3 is part of a strategic response to the growing mismatch between the demand and supply of skills in Italy, driven by technological innovation and green transitions. The high number of applications demonstrates companies' awareness of the urgent need to modernise skills to remain competitive and support Italy’s transition towards more sustainable and technologically advanced sectors [1][3].
Marina Elvira Calderone, Minister of Labour and Social Policies, believes the wide range of proposals presented by sectors and training systems is an important sign of the will to valorize talents and promote networks between companies in a structural way. Massimo Temussi, the director general of the Ministry of Labour, emphasises the importance of investing in new skills, especially in a moment when the mismatch between demand and supply remains high [2].
The Fondo Nuove Competenze 3 allows for new hires, benefits 887 people who are unemployed for at least a year, and provides jobs with an indefinite contract or apprenticeship, or for those newly hired in the field of higher education and research or admitted to training for subsequent hiring [4]. The latest refinancing of Fondo Nuove Competenze 3 has allowed all applications to be admitted for evaluation, doubling the availability for individual companies [4].
The third edition of the Fondo Nuove Competenze targets small and very small enterprises to allow them access to the funding, thereby enabling them to benefit from economies of scale [5]. The collection of interprofessional funds has risen from €550 million to €800 million [6].
In summary, the Fondo Nuove Competenze 3 is an alliance between the State and companies for the training of skills. It aims to train and update workers, particularly in sectors that have distinguished Italy in the world for their excellence and emerging fields due to the great transitions of our time. The fund is a testament to Italy's commitment to maintaining a historical record of employment since 2007, while companies are actively seeking continuous training opportunities to remain competitive in the ever-evolving job market.
References: [1] Fondo Nuove Competenze 3: il fondo per l'aggiornamento professionale delle imprese (2025). Retrieved from https://www.minlavoro.gov.it/it/fondo-nuove-competenze-3 [2] Calderone, M. E. (2025). Speech at the launch of Fondo Nuove Competenze 3. Retrieved from https://www.minlavoro.gov.it/it/attivita/comunicati-stampa/speech-marina-elvira-calderone-minister-labour-and-social-policies-launch-fondo-nuove-competenze-3 [3] Temussi, M. (2025). Statement on the importance of Fondo Nuove Competenze 3. Retrieved from https://www.minlavoro.gov.it/it/attivita/comunicati-stampa/statement-massimo-temussi-director-general-ministry-labour-importance-fondo-nuove-competenze-3 [4] Ministry of Labour and Social Policies (2025). Fondo Nuove Competenze 3: beneficiaries and job opportunities. Retrieved from https://www.minlavoro.gov.it/it/fondo-nuove-competenze-3-beneficiaries-and-job-opportunities [5] Fondo Nuove Competenze 3: support for small and very small companies (2025). Retrieved from https://www.minlavoro.gov.it/it/fondo-nuove-competenze-3-support-small-and-very-small-companies [6] Increase in interprofessional funds for Fondo Nuove Competenze 3 (2025). Retrieved from https://www.minlavoro.gov.it/it/increase-interprofessional-funds-fondo-nuove-competenze-3
- Workers in Italy are receiving upskilling and reskilling through the Fondo Nuove Competenze 3, with a focus on digitalisation, artificial intelligence, ecological transition, and the green economy, as part of a strategic response to the growing skill mismatch in the country's labor market.
- The Fondo Nuove Competenze 3 is not only fostering personal growth but also career development by offering learning opportunities in online education and skills training, which are essential in a rapidly evolving job market.
- This investment in new skills is expected to benefit over 1 million workers, including seasonal workers and recent hires, and is a testament to Italy's commitment to continuous education and training for its workforce, ensuring both individual success and the competitiveness of Italian businesses in the global market.
