Promoting access to employment and training for parents

Children whose parents are out of work are most likely to experience poverty: unemployment is a major risk factor for poverty as well as for social exclusion in the broader sense. Indeed, job loss, lack of labour market opportunities, precarious and low-wage employment are all factors that bring about poverty. Many workless individuals have low educational and vocational qualifications, meaning that their employment opportunities are generally restricted. Although unemployment has reduced in the EU since the 1990s peak, joblessness and insecure employment are still widespread.

Under this theme Network partners will analyse policies and projects that have successfully promoted access to training and sustainable employment among parents. A particular emphasis will be on successful policies for parents facing additional barriers to entering the labour market, such as disabled parents and lone parents.

A policy workshop and study visit event covering this theme took place in London in April 2008.