Italy: VET access widens through GOL reform

Wider access for stronger impact

On 24 May 2024, Italy published a new decree (Decree of 30 March 2024) in its Official Gazette to revise the national GOL programme – the Garanzia di Occupabilità dei Lavoratori (Employability guarantee). The updated rules expand eligibility to all unemployed individuals, regardless of age, gender, or time in unemployment. This means that any jobseeker who has not previously benefited from the GOL can now access it.

Introduced in 2021 and financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), the programme is a key national measure for supporting unemployed people through vocational training and reskilling. It is expected to involve 3 million beneficiaries by 2025, of which 800 000 in training activities – and 300 000 of those related to digital skills.

Stronger focus on outcomes

The decree also introduces changes to programme governance, target management, and delivery. These are designed to increase effectiveness and align the programme with today’s labour market needs. The GOL continues to provide personalised training pathways based on individual skills assessment and labour demand.

Priority is given to:

• long-term unemployed people;
• low-qualified individuals;
• women and people living in disadvantaged areas;
• young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs);
• older workers (55+).

Training focuses on digital skills, numeracy, and transversal skills to match the profiles most in demand by employers.

By 31 January 2025, the GOL programme had supported more than 3.2 million unemployed individuals. Approximately half were enrolled in Pathway 1, which targets those nearest to re-entering the labour market. The remaining participants were distributed across Pathway 2 (upskilling – 24.8%), Pathway 3 (reskilling – 20.7%), and Pathway 4 (work and inclusion – 3.8%). Pathway 5, dedicated to collective relocation for workers receiving social safety nets during employment, accounted for a marginal share, with only 4 085 individuals (0.1%) enrolled.

In terms of demographics, women made up 55.5% of the total participants, young people 29.2%, individuals aged 55 and over 16.7%, and foreign nationals 15.3%. Upon entering the programme, 35.5% had been unemployed for at least six months, and 30.7% for one year or longer.

Tackling adults’ low skills

The update comes at a time when Italy faces serious challenges in adult learning. According to the 2023 OECD Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), Italian adults continue performing below the OECD average in literacy, numeracy and problem solving. The weakest results are found among older adults and those in the south of Italy.

The GOL plays a central role in addressing these gaps by offering flexible learning opportunities through accredited providers, higher technical institutes (ITS - Istituti Tecnici Superiori) and universities. The objective is to make the Italian workforce more adaptable, resilient, and inclusive.

Read more

• GOL Programme – Ministry of Labour and Social Policies
• Decree 30 March 2024 – Official Gazette No. 120
• OECD PIAAC Survey