Social services as drivers of the European economy

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Social services as drivers of the European
economy
Concetta Cultrera European Commission DG
Employment, Social Affairs and Equal
Opportunities Unit E4, Social Protection and
Social Services
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Todays presentation

• The role of social services in the European
  societies
• The importance of social services in the
  European economy / the working conditions in the
  sector
• The growing demand for social services
• Expenditure on social services
• The strategy of the Commission

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Social services what do we mean?

• Statutory and complementary social security
  schemes, organised in various ways and covering
  the main risks of life (linked to health, ageing,
  occupational accidents, unemployment,
  disabilities)
• Services to the person (social assistance
  services employment and training services,
  social housing, child care, long-term care)
• role of prevention and social cohesion,
  facilitating social inclusion and safeguarding
  fundamental rights
• often considered by public authorities as being
  services of general interest

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Employment rate in health and social services
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Trend of employment in health and social
services
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Change in the employment rate (2000-2007)
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Skill levels and working patterns
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Wage evolution (1995-2005)
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Population over the age of 65 and 80 in 2008 and
2060
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Expenditure in benefits in kind
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Employment in health and social services vs.
social protection benefits
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The Commission strategy towards social services

• Enhancing legal certainty
• the FAQ documents
• the IIS
• the Spiegel group
• the evaluation of the SGEI package
• the training initiative
• Promoting social services quality
• the PROGRESS projects
• the EU Quality framework
• and a new call for tender for a study on social
  services

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• Questions?
• concetta.cultrera_at_ec.europa.eu
• do not forget the IIS !!
• http//ec.europa.eu/services_general_interest/regi
  stration/form_en.html
• More information?
• http//ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/ssgi_en
  .htm