The pact to upskill citizens, workers, and businesses

Approved by Council of Ministers Resolution No 216/2025, the Digital Skills Pact is structured around three pillars and 17 initiatives, covering everything from basic digital literacy to advanced technological specialisation, including emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, robotics, and cloud computing.

The initiative is part of the 2026–2027 Action Plan of the Portugal Digital Strategy and aims to accelerate the country's digital upskilling, promote inclusion, and strengthen the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy.

The starting point

The most recent data show progress in digital transformation, but highlight the need to accelerate the development of digital skills in Portugal.

According to DESI 2025:

• 56% of the population aged 16 to 74 has basic digital skills;
• Portugal ranks 16th among EU Member States;
• Only 30% of the population has digital skills above the basic level.

National targets for 2030 include:

• 80% of the population with basic digital skills;
• 40% of the population with digital skills above the basic level;
• 90% of SMEs with basic digital intensity;
• 7% of the employed population working in specialised technology fields.

In the business context, 74.3% of Portuguese small and medium-sized enterprises had a basic level of digital intensity in 2024 — a figure that should reach 90% by 2030.

Information and Communication Technology specialists currently account for 5.2% of the employed population, above the European average, but still short of the national target set for the end of the decade.

Three pillars of action

The Pact is organised around three strategic pillars:

• Basic digital skills development;
• Intermediate and advanced digital skills development;
• Emerging technological skills.

These are complemented by a cross-cutting pillar dedicated to the coordination, monitoring, and operationalisation of the planned measures.

Pillar 1 — Basic digital skills development

The first pillar provides programmes aimed at the population aged 16 to 74, focused on developing the essential digital skills needed for daily life, access to digital public services, and civic participation. Key measures include:

• The creation of a network of Community Digital Agents;
• Certified digital training programmes;
• Actions targeting people with disabilities;
• Outreach initiatives in low-density areas;
• Mobile digital skills units.

The measures will focus particularly on citizens aged between 45 and 70, living in rural areas and with educational attainment below upper secondary level. The target for this pillar is to upskill approximately 1.9 million people by 2030.

Pillar 2 — Intermediate and advanced digital skills development

The second pillar is aimed at the active population, including workers and people who are unemployed. The planned programmes include:

• Digital skills diagnostics;
• Certified training pathways;
• Support for participation in training;
• Reorganisation of the public digital training offer;
• Creation of training plans tailored to market needs.

Public Administration will also be covered by specific digital upskilling programmes, including artificial intelligence acceleration initiatives applied to public services. The objective is to train more than 800,000 people by 2030 and strengthen productivity, innovation, and the labour market's adaptation to digital transformation.

Pillar 3 — Emerging technological skills

The third pillar focuses on specialist training in emerging technologies and areas of high labour market demand. Programmes will cover skills in:

• Generative artificial intelligence;
• Automation;
• Cybersecurity;
• Data science;
• Robotics;
• Cloud computing.

The defined target is to upskill more than 100,000 specialists by 2030, ensuring that at least 30% of participants are women.

Supporting instruments

The Pact incorporates a set of instruments designed to ensure access to digital upskilling across the entire country. Planned measures include:

• Mobile digital skills units;
• Network of Community Digital Agents;
• Digital training wallet integrated into the gov.pt app;
• National digital training offer aggregator.

The digital wallet will enable the secure and interoperable consolidation of qualifications, micro-credentials, and training pathways undertaken throughout life. Implementation of this feature is scheduled for 2027–2028.

Implementation timeline

Implementation of the Pact began in the first half of 2026 and will run through to the second half of 2030. Coordination is ensured by the government areas responsible for State Reform, Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, and Education, Science and Innovation, involving public bodies, businesses, academic institutions, and social sector organisations across the country.