Women, older people, migrants and persons with disabilities are key to tackling EU skills and labour shortages

Better integrating underrepresented groups – such as women, older people, migrants and persons with disabilities – into the job market can help to mitigate skills and labour shortages and offset the demographic changes that risk shrinking the EU’s workforce by up to 18 million by 2050.

The Commission’s 2025 Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) report highlights that one-fifth of the working-age population – around 51 million people – are currently outside the EU labour market, with women, people aged 55–64, migrants, and persons with disabilities making up the vast majority. Facilitating access to the labour market would also contribute to reaching the EU’s 78% employment rate target for 2030. At the same time, it would improve social cohesion and support the EU’s 2030 poverty-reduction target.

In 2024, the EU created 1.8 million more jobs compared to the previous year, bringing the employment rate up to 75.8%, while the unemployment rate fell to a new historic low of 5.9%.

Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, said: “The 2025 ESDE report shows that the EU’s labour market remains remarkably strong, with employment rising, largely thanks to more women, older people and migrants entering work. This is encouraging, but we need to do more to ensure everyone can contribute their skills and talents. By removing obstacles, challenging stereotypes, and advancing gender equality, we can tackle labour shortages, boost our competitiveness and build a fairer, more inclusive society.”

Source: European Commission