Vocational education and training measures have featured prominently in the responses of EU member states to the economic crisis that erupted in 2008. Existing training programmes have been expanded and new programmes introduced. In addition, employers and trade unions have negotiated new entitlements to education and training. This article explores the various training measures that have been adopted since the start of the crisis and compares countries with different types of training systems. Particular attention is paid to the UK, Ireland and Germany. The article also examines the role that training measures have played in governments’ active labour market programmes. While the European Commission has called for a ‘training-first’ approach to the unemployed, the article suggests that ‘work-first’ principles are becoming even more dominant.
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