An evaluation by the Commission indicates that people in the EU have clearly benefited from employment and labour mobility support by the European Social Fund (ESF).

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The Commission study shows that support by the ESF to employment and labour mobility has, overall, had a positive impact on workers in the EU. 

Prior to the current pandemic, there was a growing demand for labour in most Member States. Additionally, ESF employment and labour mobility operations helped 1.3 million participants enter employment immediately after their participation in an ESF-funded initiative.

ESF operations have also led to innovative approaches, especially in providing support to groups that are more difficult to reach.

Evidence from this study underscores the unique value of employment and mobility support towards specific target groups and through tailored approaches.

Background

One of the headline targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy, adopted in 2010 by the European Council, is to increase the employment rate of the population aged 20-64 to at least 75% by 2020.

This study provides an evaluation of operations in all Member States for the period 2014-2018, assessing the contribution of the European Social Fund (ESF) to employment and labour mobility, excluding support to youth employment.

Country specific factsheets complement this report and summarise, for each EU country, the main actions, outputs, results and lessons learned so far of the implementation of employment and labour mobility operations (excluding youth employment) co-funded by the EU.