Armenia
The European Training Foundation (ETF) is supporting Armenia to develop education and training to boost employability, increase access to opportunities and promote social cohesion, complementing the work of the EU's External Action Service and upon request of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia.
Entered into force in 2021, the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement sets a framework for cooperation between the EU and Armenia on issues such as better living standards (more jobs and business opportunities), and more choice in education (better quality of education, with a focus on lifelong learning).
The EU’s first regional programme supporting education reforms and skills in the Eastern Partnership region was formally launched in Turin in May 2024. This EUR 2.5 million, three-year (2024–26) programme – to be implemented by the ETF – aims to enhance the efficiency, quality, equity, equality and relevance of education systems in five countries of the region, including Armenia.
Since 2010, Armenia has been actively engaged in the Torino Process, a participatory analysis of education and training systems and policies, contributing to the ongoing and future policy reforms in this field. We are supporting national reforms in work-based learning and career guidance, and in 2022 we carried out a survey of the Armenian career development support system. In 2022, we also launched a review of labour market policies in Armenia to better target our policy advice on education, reskilling/upskilling and employability.
We have also investigated new forms of employment in the country, such as platform work, focusing our research on the changing patterns of work triggered by digitalisation; and studied the future skill needs in the construction sector (see also the summary note) to understand how various drivers of change impact occupations and related skill needs in the sector, and how the education and training system is adapting to these changing needs.
Armenia actively participates in our regional initiatives and networks, such as the Forum for Quality Assurance in VET, the ETF Network for Excellence, the Governance, Learning, Action and Dialogue – GLAD – network, the Creating New Learning initiative.
Read our 2024 update on Key policy developments in education, training and employment (ETF, 2024). For a quick overview, see below:
2024 developments at a glance
🏛️ Legislation and policy reform: the Government Programme 2021-2026 prioritises evidence-based policy making across all sectors. It recognises education as the key to sustainable, inclusive development and societal well-being, aligning with the Armenian Transformation Strategy 2050, (adopted in 2020);
🤝 Strengthening EU-Armenia cooperation: in February 2024, the Partnership Implementation Report under the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) underscored Armenia’s commitment to reform and stronger EU cooperation. In April, a vision for a new EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda was introduced, including a proposed €270 million Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia 2024-2027. Among its priorities, the plan focuses on skills, employment and the long-term integration of displaced people;
🎓 Educational reforms: in May and November 2024, progress on implementing the State Programme for the Development of Education in the Republic of Armenia 2030 was discussed in high-level policy dialogue meetings with a wide range of stakeholders. This education strategy prioritises quality, accessibility, and efficiency, emphasising lifelong learning, school-to-work transition, and aligning skills with labour market needs to reduce youth unemployment;
🏫 Vocational education and training (VET): Armenia has made significant progress in expanding access to VET. The new Law on VET, adopted in May 2024, strengthens links to the labour market, promotes greater private sector collaboration, and prioritises work-based learning and dual education. It also introduces certification for learning outcomes, laying the foundation for micro-credentials;
💼 Employment and the labour market: the Strategic Employment Programme 2025-2031, adopted in December 2024, takes a comprehensive approach to human capital development by integrating economic, employment, education, and social policies. To improve job matching and bridge the gap between employers and jobseekers, the e-work.am platform was launched in May 2024. These efforts are expected to sustain the downward trend in unemployment, building on the decline from 13.4% in 2022 to 12.4% in 2023, while also creating better opportunities for higher-skilled workers and tertiary graduates with VET specialisations. However, youth unemployment remains high, the risk of long-term unemployment persists, and the female inactivity rate remains above 50%;
👦 👧 Youth in focus: the share of 15-24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEETs) fell from 20.3% in 2021 to 16.9% in 2023, though rates remain higher among women. The country’s first law on youth policy (approved in March 2025), along with a YouthStrategy and Action Plan, will actively target these challenges;
💻 The digital transition: in Armenia, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 69.5% of total employment and play a vital role in the economy. However, many SME workers lack digital skills, hindering the country’s digital transformation. To address this challenge, the government is prioritising digital literacy, with the National Centre of Educational Technologies (NCET) leading initiatives to enhance digital education and skills development. Additionally, the TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies is making a substantial impact by providing free IT training. TUMO equips 12-18-year-olds with essential digital competencies and offers specialised web-based courses for 19-26-year-olds in fields such as robotics, 3D modelling, and graphic design. These efforts are helping to bridge the digital divide and prepare Armenia’s workforce for the future;
📈 PISA - Armenia will participate in PISA for the first time in 2025, marking a significant step in educational benchmarking.
Priorities for 2025
👉 Armenia is working towards the implementation of the new law on VET, prioritising the revision of the National Qualifications Framework, strengthening quality assurance mechanisms, and improving work-based learning arrangements.
👉 Armenia aims to implement the new Strategic Employment Programme 2025-2031, focusing on employment growth in regional cities, increasing opportunities for youth and women, and supporting individuals in social benefit schemes.