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EU Urges Integration of Underrepresented Groups to Tackle Labor Shortages

9/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The EU's 2025 Employment and Social Developments report highlights the need to better integrate underrepresented groups, such as women, older individuals, migrants, and persons with disabilities, to combat labor shortages.
Approximately 51 million working-age individuals remain outside the EU labor market due to significant barriers.
In 2024, the EU added 1.8 million jobs, increasing the employment rate to 75.8% and reducing unemployment to 5.9%.
Migrants experience an unemployment rate of 11.8%, double the EU average, with 38% living in poverty.
Major obstacles for migrants include language barriers and non-recognition of qualifications; the report recommends tax incentives, job support, and language training to improve their workforce participation.

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Story summary

The EU's 2025 Employment and Social Developments report highlights the need to better integrate underrepresented groups, such as women, older individuals, migrants, and persons with disabilities, to combat labor shortages.
Approximately 51 million working-age individuals remain outside the EU labor market due to significant barriers.
In 2024, the EU added 1.8 million jobs, increasing the employment rate to 75.8% and reducing unemployment to 5.9%.
Migrants experience an unemployment rate of 11.8%, double the EU average, with 38% living in poverty.
Major obstacles for migrants include language barriers and non-recognition of qualifications; the report recommends tax incentives, job support, and language training to improve their workforce participation.