Employment News Third Quarter 2014

László Andor European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Free movement is first and foremost a right. People should not be forced to move to another country for economic reasons, nor to escape discrimination and exclusion in their home country. However, the EU should support people who decide to move to another Member State to work or look for work. ”

Recent Statistics Slowly improving ❑ The EU-28 unemployment rate* in August 2014 was 10.1 %, its lowest rate since February ❑ The euro area unemployment rate* in August 2014 was 11.5 %, down from 12 % in August ❑ In the euro area and the rest of the EU, unemployment rates have fallen compared to the previous year: ❑ 0.7 % drop in the EU-28 ❑ 0.5 % drop in the euro area ❑ In August 2014, there were approximately 24.6 million people unemployed in the EU-28.

Unemployment Statistics Unemployment rates across EU-28: August 2014 ❑ The lowest unemployment rates were found in Austria (4.7 %), Germany (4.9 %), and Malta (5.9 %). ❑ The highest unemployment rates were found in Greece (27.0 %)* and Spain (24.4 %). Unemployment rates in August 2014, seasonally adjusted

Unemployment Statistics ❑ The EU unemployment rate continues to decrease but still remains high when compared to pre-crisis levels and to the US/Japan. Euro area and EU-28 unemployment rates versus US and Japan, seasonally adjusted series

Long-term unemployment remains a concern ❑ The rate of long-term unemployment (unemployed for 12 months or more and actively seeking employment)* accounted for 5.1 % of the labour force in ❑ This is a notable increase from 2012, when the rate was 4.7 %. Unemployment duration Unemployment rates by duration, 2013

Youth Unemployment (ages 15-24) ❑ In August 2014, 21.6 % or million young people were unemployed in the EU-28*. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate for the euro area was 23.3 % or million people. ❑ The rate of youth unemployment dropped by 1.9 % in the EU-28 and by 0.6 % in the euro area when compared to August This represents a decrease of and people respectively. ❑ The lowest youth unemployment rates for August 2014 were in Germany (7.6 %), Austria (8.2 %) and the Netherlands (10.1 %), which all recorded decreases since the last quarter. ❑ The highest rates were in Spain (53.7 %), Greece (51.5 %)** and Croatia (43.9 %)***, although each country experienced a reduction in their rate since the last quarter.

Youth Unemployment The graph below tracks youth unemployment rates since After a sharp rise between 2008 and 2012, youth unemployment rates have dropped in recent quarters. Euro area and EU-28 youth unemployment rates, seasonally adjusted series

Employers on the EURES Portal CountryEmployers Germany682 UK225 Spain171 Netherlands158 Norway135 France102 Italy95 Austria78 Cyprus76 Sweden employers registered with EURES* CountryCount Germany122 Italy57 UK53 Spain32 Poland30 Czech Republic 26 Norway22 Slovakia18 Romania16 Austria15 Top countries Most requested location**

EURES Jobseeker Profiles Top countries CountryJobseekers Italy20194 Spain17723 Romania5561 Croatia5459 Portugal4493 Poland4140 France3520 Germany3345 Greece3220 Bulgaria2975 OccupationJobseekers Waiter or Waitress 1666 Administrative assistant 1627 Language Teacher 1328 Clerk (General)1228 Hotel Receptionist 1022 IT project manager 902 Architect829 Secretary785 Software programmer 763 Translator731 EducationJobseekers Master’s Degree20387 Bachelor Degree16179 Vocational Training 7436 Upper Secondary Education 6303 Advanced Studies (Doctorate) 2277 Basic Education1422 Top occupations** Education level CVs online*

Bottleneck Vacancies ❑ Bottleneck occupations are those where there is evidence of recruitment difficulties, such as extensive unfilled vacancies and underqualified candidates. ❑ Approximately 60 % of bottlenecks in Europe can be regarded as structural, having existed for four or five years. ❑ Skills mismatch across EURES countries is the main reason for most of the shortages in bottleneck sectors. Top 10 bottleneck occupations in EURES countries

Mobility Intentions ❑ In 2013, an average of 25 % of EU citizens (excluding Croatians) expressed a willingness to be mobile. This figure is slightly lower than the 28 % who expressed a willingness in 2011.* ❑ Swedes (54 %) and Croatians (43 %) were the most likely to consider working in another EU country. Austrians (12 %) and Czechs (14 %) were the least likely. ❑ The main factors driving mobility in 2013 were ‘desire to get a better salary’ (50 %), ‘better professional development or career opportunities’ (28 %), and ‘inability to find a job in their own country’ (28 %).

Your first EURES job ❑ YfEj is a job mobility scheme that provides financial and logistical support to help young Europeans find a job, traineeship or apprenticeship in other EU countries. ❑ YfEj aims to facilitate job placements with three calls. By the second quarter of 2014, the first and second call projects had achieved 57 % of the overall placement target. ❑ YfEj has spent 59 % of its overall budget with the average cost per placement to this end approximately EUR ❑ A recent Commission report has noted that YfEj ‘reduces the obstacles to first time labour market entry and serves as a cushion to provide psychological comfort for those going or moving abroad’.

Sources Commissioner Andor lecture at the University of Ghent EURES Statistics (accessed October 2014) EUROSTAT Unemployment statistics – 30 September European Job Mobility Bulletin (EJMB): Issue No. 12 / April 2014, Mapping and Analysing Bottleneck Vacancies in EU Labour Markets Your first EURES job, Progress Summary 2014 Q2, September EU Employment and Social Situation - Quarterly Review - June 2014 (Supplement on mobility)