The European Commission published its third monitoring report in which it gathers good practices of projects across Europe dealing with working conditions, employment, social affairs and inclusion.

This monitoring is part of the EU's Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).

These good practice examples can form a basis for policy recommendations, which may be useful to the policy-maker designing or implementing policy interventions in this area.

Examples of good practices

A collaboration between Austria, Croatia and Slovenia on skills forecasting was considered good practice as a specific software for unemployment forecasting was created. The predications can for instance be used to plan enrolment quotas for educational programmes.

Another recommendable outcome was that of AGES 2.0, a project in Italy and the UK which tested whether the health and well-being of elderly people improved through social media intervention. It resulted in a stronger sense of self-competency and showed improved cognitive capacity. Seven policy recommendations, directed to different stakeholders, emerged from the findings, including:

• Encourage care homes to provide access to digital technologies and support;
• Tailor PC's to participants' needs;
• Support care staff in acquiring the skills needed to make older people digitally literate.

Also exemplary was EuroJobs. Gi Group in Italy participated in the Your first EURES Job scheme and made 358 placements in total. It exceeded its expected target by 240%. The factor which contributed to this success was that GI built an integrated communication plan at EU level which allowed the company to inform large audiences about the programme benefits.