Shaping the EU response to long term unemployment Jackie Morin DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion European Commission 11 March 2015
Political orientations Commission Work Programme 2015 - COM(2014)910 Member States are facing the difficult challenge of getting more people into work, and ensuring that workers have the skills they need to progress and adapt to the jobs of the future. The Commission will present a package of measures to support these efforts to help boost integration in the labour market and promote skills New initiative : Proposal for a Council recommendation on integration of the long term unemployed Council Conclusions on "2015 Annual Growth Survey and Joint Employment Report" and on "Inclusive labour markets" (9 March 2015) Preventing and reducing long-term unemployment: through improved efficiency of public employment services, the effectiveness of activation and make work pay measures, and by investing in human capital as well as tailor-made active labour markets policies and integrated social services.
Unemployment challenge Long term Unemployment is the main legacy of the crisis 11.9 million long term unemployed (49% unemployed) 59% very long term unemployed Every year, 19% fall into inactivity; more than 50% remain unemployed High incidence among prime age and older workers Increasingly high proportions of low skilled are long term unemployed, contributing to polarisation and inequalities
% of labour force % of unemployed Recent evolution Long term unemployment and very long term unemployment in active population (EU 28) 6 60 5 50 4 40 3 30 2 20 1 10 0 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 0 Share of long-term unemployed in total unemployment Long-term unemployment rate Very long-term unemployment rate Eurostat, LFS
% of unemployed by duration Integration performance Share of unemployed who transition to employment 48,0 43,6 40,0 38,0 41,7 36,3 35,3 32,2 28,0 18,0 8,0 < 1 month 1-2 months 30,2 3-5 months 27,4 6-11 months 26,6 22,6 12-17 months 22,5 20,4 18-23 months 18,2 15,7 24-47 months 11,4 > 4 years 10,2 2010 (U) 2011 (U) 2012 (U) Unemployment duration Eurostat, LFS 2013, experimental data
Large variation among Member States Transition rates from unemployment (2012) to employment (2013) by duration Eurostat, LFS 2013, experimental data
Problem Insufficient focus Inadequate support to the long term unemployed Low coverage of active measures among long term unemployed (4% HR -> 41% AT) Diminishing spending per capita during crisis Strengthen link to demand: Stronger links to employers and primary labour market, design of hiring subsidies and related services
% unemployed aged 25-64 receiving unempl benefits or assistance Problem - Discontinuity Share of unemployed receiving labour market benefits or assistance by duration of unemployment 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 Months of unemployment Eurostat, LFS 2013, self- declared
Problem - Integration Insufficient coordination between delivery agents Lack of continuity in individual assessment and action plan when responsibility for services shifts Insufficient coordination between delivery agents (public employment services, municipalities, social services) lack of clear obligations and mechanisms to cooperate Inadequate enforcement of benefits conditionality / Lack of coherence / low level of incentive to work
New Initiative Objectives General objective Provide a consistent framework for support to LTU integration into the labour market (national actions, Structural Funds, CSRs) Specific objectives 1. Increase the transition rates to employment of the long term unemployed and reduce the share of those falling into inactivity 2. Prevent the fall from LTU (one year) to very long term unemployment (two years or more) 3. Better align social benefits and activation measures, enhancing cooperation within Member States between relevant public or outsourced services delivering activation support, benefits and social services to LTU.
Options considered No policy change (continuation of European Semester process) Council Recommendation on general measures to address LTU (Guidelines the integration policies) Council Recommendation introducing the notion of Job integration offer (or individual activation offer)
Baseline scenario Current EU policy European Semester (19 Member States CSRs on LTU, activation, active measures) Communication on European Semester implementation (March 2015): need to strengthen the capacity of their Public Employment Services to fight long-term unemployment. March 2015 Employment Guidelines: Comprehensive and mutually reinforcing strategies for LTU Provision of specific active support Better targeted and simplified social services European Social Fund ''Access to Employment' and 'Active Inclusion' investment priorities (2014-2020)
Option : Broad Council Recommendation Comprehensive and mutually reinforcing strategies Individualised approach individualised case management tailored services Integrated approach delivery partnerships coordinated support offer Mutual commitments rights and responsibilities gradual approach Partnership with employers enriching services for employers awareness, incentives and post-placement support
Option : Targeted Council Recommendation Job Integration Agreements Specific instrument for specific group of beneficiaries, additional to other ALMP offers Relevant activation offer Intensified point of intervention: between 12 and 24 months or after end of UB Personalised individualised approach Mutual commitments activation, benefits, social services building on existing entitlements Single point of contact/ integration of services Open questions on the timing of intervention, on identification of the target groups and on type of agreement (contract of part of IAP)
Next steps Public consultation open until 15/05 on Europa website Impact assessment analysing different options Consultations of social partners Consultations of relevant EU committees Foreseen proposal:summer 2015