Helping to drive labour market participation among the young and unemployed

Delivering training and life-long learning and enhancing mobility

Brussels, 18th March 2010

The Agency Work sector contributes to each of the key pillars of the Employment dimension within the

EU 2020 strategy, and is ready to play its role in delivering growth and jobs across the EU27.

The European Council on 25/26 March, and indeed the tripartite social summit that precedes it, will

debate the Employment goals as laid out by Commissioner László Andor including raising

employment levels, facilitating labour market access for the young and unemployed, reconciling

flexibility with security, upgrading skills and promoting work mobility.

“The agency work industry can make a key contribution to reaching the employment targets of the EU

2020 Strategy and putting Europe back on track. As the most secure form of flexible work, agency

work provides a stepping stone to the labour market - especially for young and inexperienced

workers, increases labour market participation, contributes to the implementation of active labour

market policies and enhances skills and work mobility,” explained Denis Pennel, managing director of

Eurociett, the European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies.

“Ensuring better functioning and more inclusive labour markets, the agency work sector is well

positioned to make a major contribution in helping Europe exit the current economic crisis and realise

its long term goals of growth and jobs.”

Agency work has a proven track record in meeting each of the pillars, as research shows: