The agenda for new skills and jobs aims to make labour markets more flexible, give workers the skills they need, improve working conditions and create jobs.

The main goal – by 2020 – is to achieve an employment rate of 75% for all people between 20 and 64. It is one of the five key elements of the EU’s growth and jobs strategy, Europe 2020.

The EU can meet all these challenges and raise employment rates substantially, particularly for women and young and older workers, but only with resolute action focussing on four key priorities:

1. better functioning labour markets;
2. a more skilled workforce;
3. better job quality and working conditions;
4. stronger policies to promote job creation and demand for labour.