What are the main employment issues covered in the National Reform Programmes?
The central finding is that reform pays off. The structural changes that Member States have pursued since the mid-1990s have helped to raise the effect of existing growth in terms of creating more jobs, provide more employment-friendly wage developments, and lower structural rates of unemployment. However, progress remains insufficient to fuel more economic and employment growth and a more rapid movement towards the EU employment rate targets. Member States give most prominence to attracting and retaining more people in employment and in most cases set targets for employment rate growth, though the measures proposed to achieve this are not always sufficient. The theme of more investment in human capital to improve employment and productivity growth receives widespread attention. Implementing lifelong learning, embracing education, training and adult learning, particularly for the low-skilled, requires a coherent policy linked to the economic and social situation of each Member State. T
