Focus on refugee migration to Europe means a focus on a silent parallel emigration crisis - the “brain drain” from the Western Balkans – has lost momentum of solving the loss of able, highly educated individuals from our region in search of higher-paying jobs or and better working conditions elsewhere that has taking place since the 1990. BalVET-EWEC aims to keep talent home by addressing the need for young people to acquire new skills that will enable them to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. Pilots establish living labs as VET capacity-building mechanisms, develop new curricula for skills development for learners ages 16-28, and create opportunities for synergies and cross-border collaboration. Actions VET educators as “paradigm shifter” learning facilitators to mentor learners with skills to respond to myriad jobs - both in conventional local markets and in remote work; entrepreneurship ed positions both VET systems and learners for the twin transitions, and Open Badges display capacity transparency of skills acquired during training. Via the Collaborative Leadership Process, EWEC also prepares a cross-section of sectors to respond to innovation and technology advancements that warrant the design of new products and services, create new jobs and careers and support social entrepreneurship to address social agendas. It reviews the “new normals” of workplace realities reshaped by social disruptors that, coupled with initiatives that promote digitalization, sustainability and the greening of society, present new opportunities for young people in our region to re-evaluate how, where and for whom they work, but are in need of new skillsets to face post-Covid careers. Mobility for both teachers and learners is a priority. Ultimately, a new generation of changemakers and problem-solvers is nurtured, able to address challenges with new skillsets, enter or progress in a variety of labor markets and contribute to the economic development of our region.