Review of Employment and Social Developments in Europe highlights more employment, less poverty and a changing world of work

The latest annual review of Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) published today shows some encouraging results. Around 3 million jobs have been created and employment has risen, pushing back poverty. However, unemployment remains high, with huge disparities across Member States. Labour markets and societies will need to adapt to new forms of work. Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, commented: “This annual Review shows that our efforts of the last years are bearing fruit. Our economies continue to create jobs, and households saw their disposable incomes increase. However, many people who work are still poor, which shows that it is not just about creating jobs, but about creating quality jobs. In addition, societies and labour markets are changing, due to new technologies and new forms of work. These bring new opportunities, but also new challenges, and we need to ensure that no one is left behind. With the European Pillar of Social Rights and new initiatives in the framework of our New Skills Agenda, we aim at tackling these challenges head on.” This year’s report focussed on employment as a means to tackle poverty, digitalisation and the changing world of work, the role of social dialogue, convergences and divergences among Member States and the integration of refugees in the labour market.