PMI Belgium Blog

On 5 March 2025, the European Commission unveiled the Union of Skills strategy, a single framework that aligns education, training and employment policies so Europe can stay competitive in a fast-changing world. Central to the initiative are Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs): personal training wallets that give every citizen—employed, self-employed or between jobs—buying power for accredited up- and reskilling pathways and the EU’s Pact for Skills.

To help turn this vision into reality, PMI has signed the EU’s Pact for Skills, joining a coalition of businesses in June 2025, public bodies and training providers that pool commitments, funding and data to close sector-specific skill gaps.

 

How the PMI × Pact for Skills partnership helps

• Providing training and certifications for SMEs and public bodies
• Promoting a culture of lifelong learning and certifications to boost mobility
• Supporting data-driven pathways into high-demand roles
• Enabling cross-border networks of mentoring and practice sharing
• Working against discrimination and for gender equality and equal opportunities

PMI Talent Gap Report 2025 is clear and urgent

• In 2025, the EU will count approximately 9 million project professionals.
• By 2035, demand is expected to grow to 10.8–11.3 million, a 20–25% increase.
• An estimated 1.17 million will exit the workforce due to retirement or attrition.
• Result: Europe must recruit or upskill up to 3.47 million new project professionals by 2035.

Focus on Belgium

While the Union of Skills frames a continental response, its impact will ultimately be measured country-by-country. Belgium—small in size yet pivotal in EU policymaking—illustrates both the urgency and the opportunity.

Belgium begins 2025 with roughly 145 000 specialised professionals. By 2035 employers are projected to need about 164 000 workers in a low-growth economy and up to 170 000 in a high-growth one. Over that same decade, some 19 000 seasoned professionals are expected to retire or otherwise leave the workforce, regardless of the growth scenario. When those departures are added to fresh demand, Belgium faces a talent shortfall of roughly 39 000 people in the low-growth case and around 45 000 in the high-growth case.

What those numbers mean for Belgium

• One in four roles at risk. Even on a modest economic trajectory, Belgium could see nearly 24 % of project-driven positions sitting vacant by 2035.
• Retirements loom large. The exit of 19 000 seasoned professionals accounts for almost half the projected shortfall, highlighting the value of late-career retention schemes.
• Annual target: to neutralise the gap, Belgium must add or upskill roughly 4 500 project professionals every year—triple its recent output.

Learn more

• Union of Skills
• Pact for Skills
• PMI Talent Gap Report 2025
• PMI Certifications
• Search tool for funding opportunities
• PMI Europe on Linkedin

 

Tomasz Koguc
Head of Government Relations, Europe, PMI