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Published in October 2026, the Regional Skills Ecosystem Index, also known as RESET, is a research and data initiative developed by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) to assess and compare skills ecosystems across European Union (EU) regions.
RESET fills a critical gap in the EU’s regional evidence base by placing skills at the center of analysis which is an area not explicitly addressed by existing regional indices. By providing insights into local skills supply, demand, environment and matching, it equips national and regional authorities, training providers and businesses with a stronger basis for identifying skills gaps and making better use of regional workforce potential.
This evidence can, in turn, support more targeted policy action and investment. RESET may help European policymakers identify regions requiring additional support and guide the strategic allocation of EU regional funding towards measures that strengthen skills development, vocational education and training, and regional skills ecosystems.
In doing so, RESET contributes directly to the wider objectives of the Union of Skills. By highlighting regional strengths and areas of improvement, facilitating cooperation and supporting the development and retention of talent across Europe, it can help reduce territorial disparities and strengthen regional resilience. It also supports the green and digital transitions by enabling policymakers to design targeted up- and reskilling strategies that better align skills and vocational education and training with Europe’s evolving economic, digital and environmental priorities.
Rather than focusing exclusively on educational attainment, workforce shortages, or employment outcomes, RESET combines indicators across four dimensions: skills supply, skills demand, skills matching, and the broader environment supporting skills development. The index provides regional comparisons, interactive visualizations, and downloadable data to inform education, workforce, and economic development policies. Its October 2026 dataset uses 2024 as its reference year.
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Skills systems vary considerably across regions, even within the same country. Differences in educational opportunities, industry composition, employer demand, institutional capacity, and economic conditions can influence how effectively workers develop and apply their skills. Traditional national statistics may obscure these differences. RESET was developed to provide a more integrated understanding of regional skills systems and support evidence-informed policymaking. The initiative also contributes to the EU's broader Union of Skills objectives, particularly efforts to strengthen workforce preparation, regional competitiveness, and responses to digital and environmental transitions. The index is especially relevant to ecosystem research because it treats skills development as the outcome of interacting institutions and labor-market conditions rather than the responsibility of individual education providers alone.
The index was developed and published by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, an EU agency specializing in vocational education, training, qualifications, and skills intelligence. The agency operates within the EU institutional framework and works with national governments, researchers, and other stakeholders.
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. (2026). Regional skills ecosystem index (RESET) [Dataset]. https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/datasets/regional-skills-ecosystem-index
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