Employment and social developments in Europe 2017
French
Experts from many international, regional and national agencies generously share their views, experiences and findings on skills, helping policy-makers among other stakeholders to understand the linkages between education, training and the world of work, and how to integrate skills into national development planning to promote employment and economic growth.
Older workers
Access for all to good quality education, vocational training and workplace learning is a fundamental principle of social cohesion and economic growth. Some groups of people may require targeted attention if they are to benefit from education, training and employment opportunities.
This is particularly the case for disadvantaged youth, lower skilled workers, people with disabilities, and people in rural communities. The attractiveness of vocational education and training is enhanced when combined with entrepreneurship training and when public policies encourage utilization of higher skills by business.
Youth employability
Globally, nearly 68 million young women and men are looking for and available for work, and an estimated 123 million young people are working but living in poverty. The number who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) stands at 267 million, a majority of whom are young women. Significantly, young people are three times as likely as adults (25 years and older) to be unemployed.
Skills development is a primary means of enabling young people to make a smooth transition to work. A comprehensive approach is required to integrate young women and men in the labour market, including relevant and quality skills training, labour market information, career guidance and employment services, recognition of prior learning, incorporating entrepreneurship with training and effective skills forecasting. Improved basic education and core work skills are particularly important to enable youth to engage in lifelong learning as well as transition to the labour market.
Other topic
Research papers
Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues.
Presents a detailed analysis of key employment and social issues and concerns for the European Union and its Member States as they pursue the EU 2020 employment and social goals.
This seventh edition of the annual Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) Review presents a detailed analysis of key employment and social issues and concerns for the European Union and its Member States as they pursue the EU 2020 employment and social goals.
The report feeds into the European Semester and the 2017 flagship initiative of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The main findings of ESDE 2017 corroborate the rationale and the objectives of follow-up initiatives of the Pillar, such as the proposal for a ‘New Start Initiative to support work-life balance for parents and carers’ and the social partner consultations on Access to Social Protection and the revision of the ‘Written Statement Directive’. As in previous years, the opening section of the ESDE review provides an overview of the most recent developments, trends and challenges in the employment and social fields. This year's edition focuses on the topic of ‘Intergenerational fairness and solidarity in Europe’.
The choice of topic reflects a growing perception that the impact of the crisis, as well as structural changes in the labour market including technological progress, are changing the world of work and may be putting younger generations in the EU today and in the future at a disadvantage relative to older people who are less exposed to these developments. If not addressed, these changes may undermine social cohesion, support for reforms and trust in the economic system and institutions. At the same time, intensifying demographic change will result in a growing number of older people and a shrinking working age population. This raises important questions about the implications for future economic growth and its sustainability, the fair distribution of the resources it produces between generations and the potential need for corresponding changes in the welfare state which facilitates intergenerational solidarity.
Against this background, while the first chapter provides an overview of recent employment and social trends, dedicated chapters analyse:
Chapter 2 - Intergenerational fairness and solidarity today and challenges ahead
Chapter 3 - Working lives: the foundation of prosperity for all generations;
Chapter 4 - Securing good living standards in retirement also in the future;
Chapter 5 - Fostering intergenerational fairness through social dialogue.
Apprenticeships
Lifelong learning
Older workers
Youth
Europe and Central Asia
