Thematic domains:
- Research and Innovation
Support innovation and experimentation in the area of social protection and inclusion policies, i.e. enhance social innovation based on a framework for key actions at EU, national, regional and local level to boost the development of social economy and unlock its potential in Europe for job creation, inclusion and just transitions.
- Education
Gradual establishment of Centers of Vocational excellence, i.e. vocational education and training (VET), to be world-class reference points for both initial training of young people as well as for continuing upskilling and reskilling of adults. These will support entrepreneurial initiatives and act as knowledge and innovation hubs for companies, in particular for SMEs.
- Youth
Specific objective 3.4: Better functioning labour markets monitors young people below 30 years of age supported by the ESF+ shared managemen and reinforces the EC's Youth Guarantee that helps young people to develope skills and gain work experience, in particular those relevant to the green and digital transitions.
- Green Deal
DG EMPL indirectly contributes to the attainment of the green deal objectives through ensuring a fair and socially balanced just transition, in particular through the contribution to the design of transformative policies and promotion of transformative change; development of skills needed for the green transition through support for the training needed in multiple professions to deliver on the Renovation Wave for energy efficient constructions and renovations of public and private buildings; use of the ESF+ to support the transition to climate-neutrality; development of modelling capacity, tools and indicators, and regular assessment of the socio-economic impact of the transition to climate-neutrality; technical and analytical inputs to actions under the European Green Deal, including to monitoring and governance processes.
- Digitalisation
DG EMPL contributes to the Commission general objective 2: A Europe fit for the digital age through its specific objective 2.1. A digitally skilled workforce (with a focus on the support of adults to acquire at least basic digital skills), and 5.2. Vocational education and training (VET) effectively addresses the labour market needs and prepares people for the green and digital transition.
- Healthy Societies
Specific objective 3.3 B. Safe working conditions for all aims at improving the health and safety of workers in EU by development of legislative and non-legislative initiatives (e.g. the new EU Occupational Safety and Health Strategic Framework for the period post-2020 which will address new risks, including pshychosocial risks, alongside more traditional ones such as exposure to dangerous substances and risk of accidents at work).
- Underrepresented Groups and Gender Equality
DG EMPL's Specific objective 3.5: Greater social fairness and more effective social protection include promoting more effective social protection systems through increased focus on certain groups, such as the homeless, the elderly and children; through objective 6.1. Equality it aims to pursue economic and social inclusion for persons with disabilities and monitor gender (in)equality in the labour market and contribute to closing the gender employment gap.