Archive:Labour market statistics introduced
Labour market statistics are at the heart of many European Union (EU) policies following the introduction of an employment chapter into the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997. The European Employment strategy (EES) was launched at the Luxembourg jobs summit in November 1997 and was revamped in 2005 to align the employment strategy more closely to the revised Lisbon objectives. The EU has set itself the ambitious targets of a 70 % total employment rate and 60 % female employment rate by 2010, while in the spring of 2001 a 50 % target rate was added for the employment rate of persons aged between 55 and 64 years.
In July 2008, the Council decided on updated employment policy guidelines for the period 2008 to 2010. To meet the objectives of full employment, improved quality and productivity at work, and strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion, it was decided that actions should continue to concentrate on the priorities established in the 2005 review, namely to:
- attract and retain more people in employment, increase labour supply and modernise social protection systems;
- improve adaptability of workers and enterprises;
- increase investment in human capital through better education
and skills.
These guidelines for the period 2008 to 2010 (1) form part of an integrated approach based on three pillars: macro-economic policies, micro-economic reforms and employment policies. The integrated employment guidelines for 2008-2010 encourage Member States to:
- work with renewed endeavour to build employment pathways for young people and reduce youth unemployment, in particular, through adapting education and
training systems in order to raise quality, broaden supply, diversify access, ensure flexibility, respond to new occupational needs and skills requirements; - take action to increase female participation and reduce gender gaps in employment, unemployment and pay, through better reconciliation of work and private life and the provision of accessible and affordable childcare facilities and care for other dependants;
- give support to active ageing, including initiatives for appropriate working conditions, improved health and incentives to work and discouragement of early retirement;
- develop modern social protection systems, including pensions and healthcare, ensuring their social adequacy, financial sustainability and responsiveness to changing needs, so as to support participation, better retention in employment and longer working lives.
Further Eurostat information
Dedicated section
Other information
- Council Decision of 7 July 2008 on guidelines for the employment policies