December 3, 2025
The European Wood Policy Platform (WoodPoP) just published a Policy Brief outlining how Europe’s wood-based sector can strengthen its role as a key driver of the green transition through strategic investment in skills and education. As skill requirements evolve and its ageing workforce is leaving the field, the wood-based industry is working to ensure it has the talent and expertise needed to play its role as a key driver of the green transition.
With over 8 million people employed across Europe, the wood-based sector is central to building a sustainable, innovative and inclusive society. Meeting the evolving demands of digital innovation, eco-design, and circular construction presents a significant opportunity to revitalise the sector and gain in momentum.
The Policy Brief sets out a roadmap to transform the sector through:
- Modernised vocational education and training (VET), combining traditional expertise with digital innovation;
- Pan-European recognition of skills and microcredentials, paving the way for cross-border career mobility;
- Partnerships in education, encouraging upskilling and reskilling through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning;
- Inspiring youth, making wood-based careers attractive, future-proof, and impactful;
- Building on strong foundations, by expanding and enhancing Europe’s well-established education and research infrastructure, ensuring high-quality and well-equipped programmes are available at all levels, from primary to tertiary education.
WoodPoP calls for financial and non-financial support at national and EU levels to build a resilient, dynamic workforce, capable of meeting the climate and construction challenges of tomorrow.
For further details, the Policy Brief is available here: https://woodpop.eu/projects/future-skills-wood-sector/
About WoodPoP
The European Wood Policy Platform (WoodPoP) is a collaborative initiative that brings together stakeholders from across the wood value chain to support the development of sustainable, evidence-based policies in Europe. WoodPoP aims to harness the full potential of wood in building a greener, fairer, and more innovative future for Europe.
Contact
Andreja Kutnar, Co-Lead, Technical Working Group ‘ Education & Vocational Training’ and Director, InnoRenew CoE
email: andreja.kutnar@innorenew.eu
