The European Commission has implemented various policies to address employment and social issues in the EU, aiming to improve the lives of citizens, including the Youth Guarantee, European Alliance for Apprenticeships, and the Social Economy Action Plan.
These initiatives promote job creation, work integration, and inclusive growth, ultimately benefiting citizens.
The Commission also supports social dialogue, which is essential for promoting fair working conditions, social protection, and labour market participation.
Youth employment opportunities
Youth employment is a top priority, with the EU aiming to reduce youth unemployment and increase the youth employment rate, ensuring young citizens have access to opportunities.
The Youth Guarantee, reinforced in 2020, provides young people with an offer of employment, education, apprenticeship, or traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving education.
This initiative has already shown significant results, with millions of young people benefiting from the program and improving their prospects for long-term employment.
The EU also supports youth employment through other initiatives, such as the European Alliance for Apprenticeships and the Youth Employment Initiative, which provide funding and resources for projects and programs that promote youth employment and entrepreneurship.
By investing in youth employment, the EU aims to reduce unemployment, promote social inclusion, and build a more sustainable and competitive economy for the future.
Employment of persons with disabilities
Persons with disabilities face ongoing barriers to employment due to stigma, fragmented services, and limited employer awareness about their responsibilities under the Employment Equality Directive, which mandates the provision of reasonable accommodation unless it imposes a disproportionate burden.
Despite Member States implemented various support measures like quotas and subsidies, the employment rate for persons with disabilities in the EU remains low, with a disability employment gap exceeding 20 percentage points for almost 50 million of persons with disabilities of working age.
To address this, the Commission launched a Disability Employment Package, developed with key stakeholders, offering guidelines and model practices for inclusive employment.
Social economy
The social economy, which encompasses various businesses and organizations, plays a crucial role in promoting job creation and work integration, thus contributing to social inclusion.
The social economy includes cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, and foundations, among others, and is characterized by a commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.
By supporting the social economy, the EU aims to promote job creation, social inclusion, and local development, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Long-term unemployment
Long-term unemployment is a significant challenge in the EU, with almost half of the unemployed people being out of work for more than 12 months, affecting their overall well-being and social inclusion.
The European Commission has adopted a recommendation on the integration of the long-term unemployed into the labor market, which includes three key steps: encouraging registration with an employment service, providing individual in-depth assessments, and offering job integration agreements, all aimed at supporting vulnerable groups.
Social dialogue
The EU promotes social dialogue, which involves negotiations, consultations, or exchanges of information between governments, employers, and workers, ensuring citizens' voices are heard.
The European Commission supports social dialogue at the EU level, involving cross-industry and sectoral social partners, and provides financial support to transnational projects carried out by social partners, all aimed at promoting citizens' welfare.
Flexicurity
Flexicurity is an integrated strategy that aims to enhance flexibility and security in the labor market, ultimately benefiting citizens. This approach recognizes that labor markets are constantly evolving, and that workers and employers need to adapt to changing circumstances.
By promoting flexicurity, the EU seeks to create an environment where workers can easily transition between jobs, and where employers can adjust their workforce to meet changing demands.
The EU's flexicurity strategy includes measures such as lifelong learning, active labor market policies, and modern social security systems, all designed to support workers and employers in navigating the challenges of the modern labor market.
Undeclared work
Undeclared work is a persistent challenge in the EU, affecting workers, businesses, and governments.
The European Platform tackling undeclared work enhances cooperation between Member States' relevant authorities and other actors involved in fighting undeclared work.
Funding and other initiatives
The EU provides significant funding to support employment and social initiatives, including the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe (REACT-EU), investing in citizens' futures.
The ESF+ supports the implementation of the Youth Guarantee and funds projects and reforms to promote youth employment, education, and training, empowering young citizens.
The EU also launches initiatives, such as the European Year of Youth and the European Year of Skills, to promote employment, education, and training, ensuring citizens have access to opportunities for personal and professional growth.
