Plan for More Jobs, Fair Pay and Lower Poverty in Europe

European Parliament 2026 Resolution – Key Points

• Employment goals

• The EU wants at least 78 % of people aged 20‑64 to be employed by 2030.
• In 2025 the overall unemployment rate was 6 % (2.6 %–10.6 % across member states).
• Youth unemployment is high at 13.2 %.
• Women, older workers, low‑skilled migrants, people with disabilities, Roma and other minorities still face high unemployment and insecure jobs.
• 15.1 % of people with disabilities are unemployed.

• Poverty and social exclusion

• 93.3 million people (21 % of the EU population) were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2024.
• 40 million people (9.2 %) suffered from energy poverty.
• 19.5 million children (24.2 %) were at risk of poverty or exclusion.
• 1.4 million people with disabilities and 300 000 children live in institutions.
• 8.2 % of workers (1 in 12) live in in‑work poverty.
• Minimum wages rose 20 %–40 % in many countries between 2022 and 2025, helping protect low‑paid workers.

• Climate and jobs

• Climate‑neutrality could create 1 – 2.5 million new jobs by 2030 if the right training and job‑creation policies are in place.
• The EU still faces labour shortages in many sectors; 51 million working‑age people are outside the labour market.
• By 2050 the working population could shrink by up to 18.8 million, so legal migration may help.

• Skills and training

• Only 39.5 % of adults were in learning in 2022; the target is 60 % by 2030.
• More investment is needed in education, vocational training, and lifelong learning, especially for low‑skilled workers, older workers, migrants and people with disabilities.

• Social investment

• About €192 billion per year is needed for social infrastructure (housing, health, education, care).
• Social investment boosts growth, productivity and job quality.

• Housing and energy

• Housing costs and high energy prices burden households.
• The EU’s affordable‑housing plan should be better integrated into the European Semester, with a focus on low‑ and middle‑income families, people with disabilities and older people.

• Gender and equality

• The gender pay gap is 12 %; the gender pension gap is 25 %.
• Women are more likely to live in poverty, especially in older age.

• Key EU actions called for

• A dedicated budget of at least €20 billion for the European Child Guarantee.
• A comprehensive anti‑poverty strategy with clear targets and a strong budget.
• Stronger protection for trainees and better enforcement of traineeship rules.
• A “right to training” for workers during working hours, free of charge.
• Better monitoring of social indicators (Social Scoreboard, Social Convergence Framework).
• Greater transparency and accountability in how country‑specific recommendations are made and followed up.
• Inclusion of intergenerational fairness, defence spending, and social economy in the European Semester.

• Overall message
  The resolution stresses that economic policy coordination (the European Semester) must embed social justice, environmental sustainability, and intergenerational fairness. It calls for stronger action on poverty, child protection, housing, skills, gender equality, and social investment, while ensuring that EU funds and reforms are transparent, well‑targeted, and aligned with the European Pillar of Social Rights.