A National Day for Career Specialists: Lithuania Sets a European Example
Author: Euroguidance Lithuania
In 2024, Lithuania became the first country in the world to formally establish Career Specialist Day—a state-recognised initiative celebrating the professionals who help people design meaningful career paths.
Guidance Goes National
On November 12, 2024, the Lithuanian Parliament officially added Career Specialist Day to the national calendar of commemorative days. This was the result of a grassroots initiative by the Lithuanian Career Guidance Specialists Association (LKSA), launched with the aim of increasing public recognition of career guidance as a profession.
The choice of date was symbolic—November 12 marks the founding of LKSA in 2013. “We wanted this day to send a clear message: career specialists matter,” says Giedrė Valaitienė, LKSA Chair and initiator of the proposal. “We help people make decisions that impact their education, employment, wellbeing and future.”
What Happens on the Day?
While detailed plans for the first Career Specialist Day are still in development, the aim is to raise public awareness about the profession and highlight the vital role guidance professionals play in education and the labour market.
A Profession with Broad Impact
Career guidance in Lithuania is more than school counselling—it’s a system embedded in education law, national strategy, and youth policy. Over 500 specialists work in schools alone, with many more in higher education, employment services, and private counselling centres. Their mission? Helping individuals of all ages make informed, conscious decisions about learning, work, and personal development.
Career guidance also plays a broader role in society: improving labour market efficiency, supporting economic growth, fostering inclusion, and boosting lifelong employability. As Lithuania transitions through social and economic changes, guidance specialists help people adapt, retrain, and thrive.
Inspiration for Europe
Lithuania is not the first country to celebrate career development—similar days exist in the United States and United Kingdom. But Lithuania’s initiative is unique in two ways: it is officially recognised by national law, and it focuses specifically on career guidance professionals, not just on general career awareness.
This distinction is crucial. “Behind every confident student or career-changer is often a dedicated specialist who asked the right question at the right time,” says Valaitienė. By legally recognising this contribution, Lithuania sends a strong message to other countries: it’s time to bring guidance professionals into the spotlight.
A Model to Follow
Could this national recognition be replicated elsewhere? LKSA believes so—and hopes this step will encourage other countries to value the long-term impact of career specialists. As guidance continues to evolve across Europe, Lithuania’s example shows that small, focused initiatives can lead to systemic change.
