Active employment policies IN EUROPEAN UNION AND GREECE Dr. Miltiadis Staboulis Labor Economics, PhD staboulis@gnosianaptixiaki.gr tel. (+30) 2310 403371

Active Employment Policies attracting and retaining more people in employment Passive/traditional employment policies cash benefits for the unemployed

Active employment policies Objectives: Increasing employment and reducing unemployment Conservation of the quantitative size of the workforce and increase its working skills Strengthen mechanisms for matching of labor supply and demand Management of insurance for the unemployed

Active employment policies Basic prerequisites for effective implementation: Accurate and clear targeting of active intervention programs Combination with: General employment policy Needs of companies Overall framework of objectives for growth and employment

Active employment policies in EU Amsterdam Treaty (1997): Objectives: Employability: combating long-term unemployment and youth unemployment Entrepreneurship: establishing clear, stable and predictable rules concerning the start-up and running of businesses and the simplification of administrative burdens on small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) Adaptability: modernizing work organization and flexibility of working arrangements and putting in place of a framework for more adaptable forms of contracts Equal opportunities: combating the gender gap and supporting the increased employment of women

Active employment policies in EU Lisbon Strategy (2000) Objectives by 2010: EU: “to become the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010 capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion and respect for the environment” Increasing the employment rate from 62.2% (1999) to 70% and 60% less for women (2010)

Active employment policies in EU Revision of Lisbon Strategy (2005) Active and preventive measures for the unemployed and inactive people focus on training and career guidance and job creation Developing National Reform Programs by each Member State

Active employment policies in EU Revision of Lisbon Strategy (2005) Two cycles: 2005-2007 2008-2010: Implementation of employment policies

Active employment policies in EU Financing “Progress” Program (2006) Areas: Employment Social inclusion and protection Working conditions Non-discrimination Gender equality

Active employment policies in EU “European Union 2020” Priorities: Growth based on knowledge and innovation An inclusive high-employment society Green growth: a competitive and sustainable economy

Active employment policies in Greece Objectives: Wage subsidy Temporary reductions in social security contributions Creating jobs in areas like the environment through specific incentives Local employment initiatives Education and training

Active employment policies in Greece Implementation of active employment policies Initiative co-financed by structural funds and programs managed by the European Commission: Local Employment Pacts Local Development Initiatives Projects funded under Article 6 of the ESF

Active employment policies in Greece Period 2000-2006 The creation of local employment was mostly horizontal objective of the ESF measures. Interventions : Local Initiatives for Employment Integrated Actions Intervention in Local Small Scale Urban Areas Integrated Projects for Rural Development Operational Program: “Employment and vocational training 2000- 2006” : Improvement of the access and participation of women into the labor market

Active employment policies in Greece Greek National Employment Agency (OAED) through funding the Account for Employment and Vocational Training (LAEK): Integrated interventions for areas in crisis or deindustrialization with redundancies

Active employment policies in Greece NSRF 2007-2013 Operational Program: “Human resources development 2007-2013” Objectives: Utilization of all human resources as a moving force for the country’s growth Reinforcement of social cohesion Priority axes: Supporting Adaptability of Human Resources and Enterprises Facilitating Access to Employment Complete Integration of all Human Resources into a Society of Equal Opportunities Establishment of Reform in the Mental Health Sector -Development of Primary Healthcare and Promotion of Public Health

Conclusions The active employment policies: were not the only tool for tackling unemployment, but also a means to achieve a sustainable, competitive and dynamic EU economy have not brought the desired results The new strategy “EU 2020” aims to create potential for growth and employment growth with actions at local / national and Community level, based on the achievements of Lisbon Strategy and new guidelines (innovation, green economy)

Conclusions The Greek active employment policies: Applied with considerable delay Did not have the desired effects as the youth and woman unemployment rate remained at high levels Include in the period 2007-2013: National scale and local employment actions New jobs to exploit new sources of growth based on: Knowledge and innovation Green growth The modernization and sustainability of the productive sectors of the Greek Economy