Currently more than 10 million people in Europe have been unemployed for more than 18 months. The impact of such long term unemployment is not only felt on the persons suffering joblessness but also on their families, local communities and the economy as a whole. There is a real risk that people experiencing long term unemployment ‘drop out’ of services and support systems as they don’t meet their needs or where there is an aspect of conditionality that is bordering on punishment. Addressing long term unemployment requires a holistic, person centred approach that unites social services, employment services, social protection schemes, employers and other social partners such as trade unions. That is why this week we organised a breakfast meeting that brought together all of these actors and more to discuss how long term unemployment can be addressed and how the recent European Council Recommendation on Long Term Unemployment can move from words to actions. Ole Meldgaard from Eurodiaconia member Kofoedskole presented how this organisation provides support on multiple axis to those who face long term unemployment or for whom the ‘standard’ job market is just not accessible. He also commented on how there needed to be structural reform of labour markets to make them accessible as well as integrated personalised support. He also stressed that the point of departure should not be ‘you must do this’ but rather ‘what do you want to do and what skills do you have’. This enables both motivation and self-esteem to be developed which can then support the practical aspects of returning to work.
Yet even though we can see and hear of projects and organisations that have found workable ways to support the long term unemployed we seem to get stuck when moving from projects to policies and with the sustainability of support. If developing a holistic approach is not standard then there will be many people for whom the full range of needed services and support will not be available. Furthermore, it is not enough to get someone into a job, they need to have the skills and support to be able to stay in that job – otherwise the negative cycle can start again. Our colleagues from the European Commission recognised this point and want to work more with Eurodiaconia and our membership to identify the type of support that is needed and how it can be integrated into the job search process.
As much as being in employment is good on many levels it is important to remember that not everyone will have that opportunity to work at certain times due to other issues in life – some planned, some not. That is why a number of participants mentioned that alongside supportive labour market re-entry there needed to be adequate minimum income schemes to support those who are not able to access the labour market for whatever reason. Co-ordinated services and adequate income – two areas Eurodiaconia and our members have been working on for a long time and we are hoping that finally there is global recognition of the importance of both – and we hope that the structural reform needed to achieve both will not be long in coming.
Have a good weekend,
Heather