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Tackling Unemployment in Europe through Social Inclusion and Training Programmes
2/23/2012- Event
Tackling Unemployment in Europe through Social Inclusion and Training Programmes
Eurostat estimates that approximately 23 million people in the EU-27 were unemployed in October 2011, an increase of 440,000 since October 2010. In line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, the European Employment Strategy seeks to create more and better jobs throughout the EU. The strategy provides a framework for EU countries to share information, discuss issues and coordinate their employment policies. This special International Symposium provides a timely opportunity for stakeholders and civil societies across the EU to discuss the root challenges behind current unemployment trends, exchange best practices and consider mechanisms for overcoming existing employment gaps in the labour market.
Stepfamilies are struggling more
1/25/2012- News
Stepfamilies are struggling more
Demographers from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock have found out that stepfamilies in France and West Germany have a harder time making ends meet than parents who live with their common children only. Interestingly, in East Germany and in the Russian Federation there is no difference between these family types.

Among the roughly 10,000 families surveyed were couples who lived with their common children only (referred to as nuclear families). To be counted as a stepfamily, at least one child living in the household must have come from a previous partnership. The proportion of stepfamilies is 13% in West Germany and 18% in East Germany. The higher diffusion in East Germany was anticipated, as a greater number of single parents and couples in non-marital unions live there.

Big differences between France and West Germany, and the East

West German families in general have the fewest economic problems. However, at 10% the economic gap between nuclear and stepfamilies is greater in West Germany than anywhere else. In France, the average stepfamily reported a financial status around 6% lower than that of the average nuclear family; while in East Germany and the Russian Federation, no economic differences were found between the two groups. In all countries studied, single parents were shown to be clearly disadvantaged.

In France, this disadvantage can be explained by the greater number of children in stepfamilies (an average of 3.19, compared to 2.23 in nuclear families). In West Germany, by contrast, neither family size nor other socioeconomic factors, such as education or unemployment, were shown to be responsible for the disadvantage.

In West Germany, this difference may be attributable to the generous child support payments that, until 2005, fathers were responsible for, thus reducing the amount of money available for their new families. By contrast, in the East, where step- and nuclear families are equally situated, child support payments have never played a large role. Whether these differences will remain following the recent reform of the child support law is an important question for future research.

The authors of the MPIDR study therefore used data from the Generations and Gender Survey (GGS) from the years 2004 and 2005 for France, Germany, and the Russian Federation.

Read the original article Economic conditions of stepfamilies from a cross-national perspective by MPIDR researcher Michaela Kreyenfeld. It has been published in the issue 04/2011 of the demographic quarterly Demografische Forschung aus Erster Hand.

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Money isn’t everything
1/23/2012- PopDigest
Money isn’t everything
Though it may not be a silver bullet to solve workforce shortages, the migration of highly-skilled individuals around the world is recognised as an important driver of productivity gains, innovation, and entrepreneurship. This motivates governments of EU member states, including the Netherlands, to consider policy changes in order to help attract “knowledge migrants”. In a recent study, Anu Kõu, Leo van Wissen and Ajay Bailey evaluate what drives highly-educated professionals to migrate to the Netherlands. Their results indicate that so-called “knowledge migration” depends on more than just attractive jobs.
Scrapheap or Indian Summer
1/20/2012- PopDigest
Scrapheap or Indian Summer
Accelerating workforce aging raises concern about whether our economies’ future capacity to innovate is endangered. A recent review of the literature and of previous studies by Katharina Frosch on the interplay between workforce age and innovation sheds light on some “do’s and don’ts” for scientists and practitioners when assessing age effects in innovation.
Young and Old Together: European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations has started
1/20/2012- News
Young and Old Together: European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations has started
The European Union has declared this year to the "Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations" to raise awareness about active ageing, especially regarding employment, participation in society and independent living for older people. The year started with a two-day conference organised by the European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the EU on 18th January in Copenhagen.

Will Europe become a region of old and handicapped inhabitants? The share of people aged 55 and over has increased rapidly indeed. It rose from a quarter in 1990 to a third in 2010 and is estimated to reach around 40 percent in 2060. However, people are not only living longer now, they are also staying healthier than earlier generations. “Active ageing is about helping older people to stay in work and share their experience. It is about them continuing to play an active role in society and living as healthy, independent and fulfilling lives as possible”, Lázlò Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion said.

Focusing on employment, participation and independent living

There are several fields in which action can be taken: For example cities can join the age-friendly cities programme of the World Health Organisation, companies can improve the working conditions for older employees, and charitable organisations can offer volunteer work. "The Year calls for action in different areas - employment, social protection, education and training, health and social services, housing and public infrastructure", said Andor.

During the year of active ageing, hundreds of activities, projects and events will take place and will be announced by the EU and on national levels.

More information:

Official website for the European Year

Homepage of László Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Special Eurobarometer 378: Active Ageing (Report and Factsheets)

Videos:

Video clip on the European Year - Never to old …
Video animation on pensions

 

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Accelerating workforce aging raises concern about whether our economies’ future capacity to innovate is endangered. A recent review of the literature ...

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