The project aimed to enhance the quality, accessibility and stability of long-term care by improving the skills and employability of care workers, with a particular focus on migrant workers. It sought to address Europe’s ageing population and the insufficient growth in the number of qualified care workers, as well as the central role of migrant women in the sector. Its objectives were to provide accessible, context-specific e-learning course and training materials, in five languages, to support upskilling and capacity building while promoting social inclusion and integration. It also sought to foster cooperation between VET providers, care networks, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and labour market stakeholders, creating sustainable partnerships to share knowledge and best practice across countries. Additionally, a pilot pool model was developed to facilitate the connection of trained care workers with employment opportunities and to identify emerging sector needs. Ultimately, the project sought to strengthen workforce capacity, improve the professionalisation of long-term care, support EU priorities on inclusion and equality, and contribute to the provision of sustainable, high-quality care services across Europe.
The VET CARE project was developed in response to structural challenges within Europe's long-term care (LTC) sector. Demographic ageing is rapidly increasing the number of people requiring care, while growth in the qualified workforce remains insufficient to meet this demand. By 2035, the 65+ population will grow 23%, but care jobs will rise only 7%, causing a workforce gap. The LTC sector relies heavily on migrant women, many of whom work in informal or unstable conditions and face significant barriers when it comes to accessing training, language support, and pathways to regular employment. These trends undermine the quality, availability and sustainability of LTC services. VET CARE addresses several interconnected needs: it strengthens the skills of care workers in response to the rising demand for LTC, provides accessible and context-appropriate training for migrant care workers who often lack formal qualifications or recognition of prior learning, and facilitate connections between VET providers, social area and labour-market. By developing structured training and a pilot-pool model for care workers, the project addresses the EU's priorities of inclusion, equal access to the labour market, and the professionalisation of LTC.