A new survey published today reveals that the majority of Europeans have a positive view of the EU’s role in employment and social affairs. In addition, three out of four say the European Union impacts positively on access to education and training as well as on job creation and unemployment. The survey results also show that the vast majority [84%] of European workers are confident about keeping their current jobs in the short term, but a similar proportion accepts that a “job for life” is a thing of the past. Most respondents stress the importance of regular training and being able to adapt to a new job. In this respect, many recognise the support of the European Social Fund which helps people to improve their skills and job prospects.
Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, reacted to the survey saying, “it is a positive finding that people are increasingly aware of the need of life-long learning in maintaining employability. This is the essence of the flexicurity approach. However, 2006 Employment in Europe Report shows that this is the area where European labour markets have the biggest deficit.” (see IP on Employment in Europe IP/06/1506). He added, “Citizens are sending a strong signal about their readiness to adapt to necessary changes in the European labour market. Public policies have to meet their expectations and create the right conditions for tapping into the employment potential of all generations.”
Seven out of ten Europeans agree that “work contracts should become more flexible to encourage job creation”. 84% of Europeans are confident about keeping their current job in the next six months, 3 percentage points more than in 2004. Over half are still relatively confident about finding a new job if made redundant. But this confidence varies between Member States, with Denmark ranking highest – the birthplace of flexicurity, a country frequently quoted as a model for combining flexibility with employment security.
The vast majority of Europeans (88%) believe that regular training improves their employment prospects. Considerably fewer, but still a significant number, say they have actually followed some form of training in the last 12 months (24%). Analysis shows training has a positive impact on people’s confidence in keeping their current job and holding onto a job in the medium term.
Overall, the majority of Europeans have a positive view of what the EU does in employment and social affairs (56%), up 4 percentage points (in EU15) since the end of 2003. In addition, more than three out of four respondents feel the EU has a positive impact on access to education and training (79%), the promotion of equality between women and men (76%) and the fight against other forms of discrimination (75%). 72% also say the EU’s impact is positive in creating new jobs and tackling unemployment and 71% in combating social exclusion and poverty.
Europeans also strongly endorse EU-inspired measures such as regular training for people at work (87%) and increasing child care facilities (82%) seeing it as effective in getting more people into work and staying at work longer.
As the EU’s employment and social policies are backed up with financial support from the European Social Fund, the positive perception of the EU’s role in these policy areas reflects the Fund’s strong performance. One third of Europeans have knowledge of the ESF which is frequently focused on one of the wide range of actions supported by the fund.
For the survey see:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/news/2006/nov/euro_baro_report_en.pdf
For the survey summary see:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/news/2006/nov/euro_baro_summary_en.pdf
For the 2006 Employment in Europe Report see:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/news/2006/nov/employment_europe_en.pdf
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