The figures (2021)
- Number of inhabitants in the 27 EU Member States : 447 million
- Number of unemployed people : 14.3 million in the EU or 6.7% of the active population
- Unemployment rate of people under 25 in the EU : 15.9
European employment policy
Since 1997, the European Union has had a European Employment Strategy (EES), where EU Member States have undertaken to establish a set of common objectives for employment policy. Its main objective is to create more and better jobs throughout the EU.
In the field of employment, the EU has several objectives and actions. The TFEU mentions the promotion of a high level of employment through the development of a coordinated strategy aimed at, inter alia, the training of a skilled and adaptable workforce and the creation of labour markets capable of responding rapidly to economic change.
As part of the fight against unemployment, in 1993 the EURES network was created, which enables the exchange of job offers and applications at European level and promotes the mobility of workers. In response to the economic and financial crisis of 2008, the European Youth Guarantee, which aims to guarantee all those under 25 a job, traineeship or training within 4 months of completing their studies or last work experience, was implemented.
In 2018, the revision of the Posted Workers Directive was also completed, after two years of negotiations. The principle of equal pay for equal work in the same workplace was enshrined. The collective agreements of the host country are now applied, while posting is limited to 12 months. A European Labour Authority has been created in October 2019 to deal with this issue.
The european social rights commitment
At the Social Summit in Porto on 7 and 8 May during the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union, the social partners and the European institutions agreed on the implementation of the European Social Rights Commitment by 2030.
3 main objectives were adopted
- At least 78% of people aged 20 to 64 should be in employment,
- At least 60% of all adults should participate in training every year,
- The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion should be reduced by at least 15 million, including at least 5 million children.
The minimum wage in europe
Social Europe is one of France’s priorities during its presidency of the Council from 1 January to 30 June 2022. One of the key issues will be the negotiations on the minimum wage in the EU, which began in October 2020.
However, two proposals have already been ruled out: the introduction of a “European minimum wage” or the establishment of the same minimum rate applicable in each country.
The aim of the future directive would be to ensure that minimum wages provide a decent standard of living for those who receive them.
European funding programmes
With regard to employment, in order to maintain the downward trend in unemployment prior to the health crisis, the EU is committing significant financial resources :