Dedicated to the theme of sustainability, the 2019 Annual Report on Employment and Social Development in Europe was published on Thursday 4 July by the European Commission.
The European Union's economy “continues to expand”, according to the report. With 240.7 million Europeans at work, 13.4 million jobs have been created under the Juncker Commission's mandate. In May, the unemployment rate reached 6.3% in the EU (see EUROPE 12286/15).
The report indicates that the rate of poverty and social exclusion remains below the ambitions set out in the EUROPE 2020 strategy. 4 million people have been lifted out of poverty, compared to the target of 20 million.
The impact of housing on access to work, for which one in five Europeans spends 40% or more of their income, is also analysed. It is also found that childcare has a positive impact on women's employment.
As for the challenges posed by climate change, they can be translated into employment opportunities when proactive policies are implemented. The report points out that 75% of European workers are employed in sectors that produce less than 10% of CO2 emissions. The potential is significant for employment in low-emission sectors, which nevertheless remains dependent on electricity.
In the end, according to the report, the impact of policies and measures to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement in terms of job creation is reportedly positive. Through targeted and social stimulus measures, GDP growth at EU level could reach 1.1% and employment rate growth 0.5%. The foremost beneficiary countries are Belgium and Spain, while the Scandinavian countries, which are more advanced in the transition to a sustainable economy, would be to a lesser extent.
Read the report: http://bit.ly/2XMcOjx (Martin Molko, intern)