Single mothers face some of the highest poverty risks in Europe. Accessible, flexible adult education can be one of the most powerful routes to decent work, fair pay and long-term security, for them and for their children.
A Day in the Life
Maria’s alarm rings at 6:00 a.m.
Before most people have finished their first coffee, she has made breakfast, packed school bags, checked homework and rushed her children out the door. Then she goes to work. In the evening, after dinner, laundry and bedtime, she opens her laptop to complete an online course, one she hopes will lead to a better job.
Across Europe, millions of single mothers share a similar story.
They are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for opportunity: the chance to gain new skills, find decent work, earn a fair income and build a more secure future for their families.
The Reality in Numbers
- 9% of people in single-parent households were at risk of poverty in 2023, compared with 16.2% of the general population.
- 0% is how much less, per hour, women in the EU earned than men in 2023.
- 7 million people in the EU were still at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025.
For single mothers, these realities intersect. Lower earnings, combined with sole responsibility for caregiving, limit opportunities for career progression, savings and long-term security.
The challenge is not a lack of ambition. It is a lack of time, resources, affordable childcare and flexible learning opportunities.
Why Learning Matters
The labour market is changing fast. Digital technologies, artificial intelligence and the green transition are transforming the skills employers need. Those who cannot access reskilling risk being left behind.
For single mothers, this risk is acute. Many have interrupted careers because of caregiving. Others work part-time or in lower-paid roles because these offer the flexibility they need.
Adult education can break this cycle. A flexible online course, a professional certification or digital skills training can open doors to better-paid work and greater independence. Learning enables women not only to participate in the labour market but to progress within it.
When mothers gain skills, families benefit. Children benefit. Economies benefit.
What Happens If Nothing Changes?
Without stronger investment in accessible adult learning, affordable childcare and targeted support for single-parent families, many women will remain trapped in low pay and limited opportunity.
The consequences extend beyond individual households. Children growing up in economically vulnerable homes face greater risks of educational disadvantage and social exclusion, which undermines Europe’s ambitions for social cohesion and inclusive growth.
The cost of inaction is high.
The SHE-LEARNS Response
This is where SHE-LEARNS comes in.
SHE-LEARNS recognises that education does not stop when motherhood begins. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, the project supports single mothers who want to strengthen their skills, build confidence and access new opportunities.
We work to remove the barriers that most often stand in the way:
- Time constraints – through flexible learning models that fit around family life.
- Digital anxiety – by building digital skills step by step.
- Financial pressures – by strengthening financial literacy and pathways to better-paid work.
- Confidence gaps – by helping women recognise and build on the skills they already have.
In doing so, SHE-LEARNS makes lifelong learning more accessible and more relevant to real lives. The project also equips adult educators and training providers to better support single mothers.
This work aligns with the advocacy of project partner Make Mothers Matter (MMM) Europe, which calls for policies that value mothers’ contributions and ensure that caregiving does not lead to economic disadvantage.
Looking Ahead
As Europe debates its social and economic future, one question remains:
Will the green, digital and social transitions create opportunities for everyone, or only for those who already have access?
For single mothers, the answer depends on whether policymakers, employers and educational institutions invest in lifelong learning and inclusive opportunities.
Because when a mother gains a new skill, she does more than improve her CV. She increases her earning potential. She strengthens her family’s future. And she helps build a more equitable Europe.
The path from learning to earning is not always easy. But for millions of single mothers, it may be the most important route to economic security and social inclusion in the years ahead.
Want to follow the project? Visit www.she-learns.eu for news, resources and upcoming learning opportunities.
Sources
- Eurostat, EU-SILC – at-risk-of-poverty rate by household type, 2023.
- Eurostat – gender pay gap in unadjusted form, 2023.
- Eurostat news, 30 April 2026 – “20.9% of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion” (2025 data)