Two important labor studies have been completed in the European Union, providing fundamental guidance for employment policy in the coming years. When the documents were presented, it was announced that more than €10 billion would be available annually to finance various skills development programs. This could help the EU achieve its target of a 78% employment rate by 2030. To this end, the transferability of skills and the widespread use of micro-credentials, which facilitate transitions between sectors, could play a key role. There are currently around 51 million people in the EU labor market who are unemployed, of whom around 8% belong to various disadvantaged groups. The inclusion of this group could significantly alleviate labor shortages. The studies presented also included an analysis showing that the tariffs announced by the United States could jeopardize around 400,000 European jobs. The meeting also noted that on November 11, the European Court of Justice upheld the minimum wage directive and pointed out that 1 in 10 employees falls into the category of in-work poverty. The representative of BusinessEurope emphasized that strengthening social dimensions is closely linked to increasing economic efficiency. In their view, improving efficiency can create the scope for further expansion of social measures. The next important milestone is expected in March 2026, when the EMCO committee will discuss active labor market interventions in detail and a preliminary decision may be made on the steps to be taken. Experts emphasized that in order to make the system more flexible, job retention programs need to be reorganized. They stressed that these measures should not hinder but rather support economic restructuring, a process in which the United States is currently well ahead of the EU.
