Catalóg na bhfoilseachán

Finland’s main source of growth over the past decade has been in its dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises which have created over 75 % of new jobs since 1995. ESF funding is supporting enterprise and job creation, with an emphasis on greater ‘internationalisation’, as well as addressing the challenges of a rapidly ageing population, diminishing workforce and long-term unemployment in certain sections of the population.

France receives EUR 5.4 billion of ESF funding to implement employment and training actions on the French mainland and in France’s overseas departments. This ESF support also enables France to fight inequality and to help companies adapt to economic development. These are the stra tegic priorities for boosting growth and strengthening France’s international competitiveness.

With ESF support, Germany is dedicating close to EUR 16 billion to proactive measures to meet the challenge of its ageing workforce and ensure continued growth. At federal level, ESF programmes focus on getting more people into work through supporting job creation and entrepreneurship, while in the Länder, young people, skills and education are priorities. Together, these activities are nurturing the highly skilled workers Germany needs for growth, today and for the future.

Italy is supporting job creation in its many successful SMEs by giving workers the skills they need to improve competitiveness and boost exportled performance. ESF funding is also focusing on helping more women and people from disadvantaged groups into work, while building stronger entrepreneurial links between universities, graduate students and industry.

With ESF support, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is helping people facing obstacles to work, such as older workers and young people with few qualifications, to improve their skills and job prospects. Boosting a culture of lifelong learning is another priority, to ensure workers can keep their skills up to date and benefit from the job opportunities on offer today and in the future.

With ESF support, the Netherlands is dedicating close to EUR 2 billion to proactive measures to help more people into work and improve skills. Part of this eff ort includes reaching out to disadvantaged groups, and reducing the number of early school leavers. In addition, the Netherlands is encouraging its companies to train workers in new skills and to seek new, innovative ways of improving performance.

Portugal is modernising its economy while offering all of its people the chance to acquire the new skills that will help them benefit from future growth. The education system is being boosted at all levels, people in work are getting training opportunities, and focused help is available for those social groups facing obstacles to finding a job.

Spain is using ESF funding to keep workers employed and help job-seekers get back to work. Better education and vocational training are targeted as the means to ensure a more skilled workforce for the future, as are better job prospects for the young, women, the low-skilled and disadvantaged groups – to boost their participation in a more dynamic labour market.

Thanks to ESF support, Bulgaria is spending nearly EUR 1.4 billion on measures to support education and training, strengthen its public administration and reduce poverty. This investment is helping Bulgaria boost workers’ skills and prospects and improve public services – particularly those supporting business and employment – thus ensuring all of its citizens, including vulnerable groups like the Roma, can benefit from future growth.