15 Actions for Retention and Recruitment of Social Services Workers

The two Social Partner organisations sign landmark framework of actions to boost recruitment and retention in social services.

Europe’s social services are running out of staff. The sector will need more than 1.6 million extra long-term care workers by 2050 just to maintain today’s level of support.

The Federation of European Social Employers and the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) agreed on 26th of June on a Framework of Actions on Retention & Recruitment in Social Services. The agreement is the first major achievement of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Social Services, established in 2023.

Negotiated jointly by employers and trade unions, this milestone initiative sets out the Social Dialogue Committee’s partners goals and actions to tackle the workforce shortages and high turnover that already undermine the quality and availability of care across Europe. It calls on governments and funding authorities to help make care jobs attractive, sustainable and rewarding.

In line with the European Care Strategy and the EU Action Plan to address labour and skills shortages, the Framework lays out 15 concrete actions across eleven thematic focus areas to stem the staffing crisis. These include:

  • Education and training
  • Welcoming and onboarding of staff
  • Safe staffing levels
  • Recognition and appreciation of workers
  • Lifelong learning and professional development
  • Work–life balance
  • Gender equality and workforce diversity
  • Occupational health and safety
  • Change management
  • Communication
  • Social dialogue and collective bargaining

The document is both a commitment from the EU level social partners for social services and an urgent call to action for all who shape social services.

With the Framework now signed, the Social Employers and EPSU urge national, regional and local social partners and public authorities to put its measures into practice.

With this joint commitment, the two social partners aim to support the delivery of reliable, person-centred services while building resilient, attractive workplaces for the workers who provide them.

Read the full Framework of Actions HERE.

 

For more information, contact: secretariat@socialemployers.eu