EU Social Affairs Ministers approve and exchange on European Semester from a human capital & quality jobs and AI perspective

EU Social Affairs Ministers approve and exchange on European Semester from a human capital & quality jobs and AI perspective

On 9 March 2026, Social Affairs Ministers participated in a meeting of the Council of the EU, where different aspects of the European Semester were discussed .

As part of the European Semester cycle, the Council adopted the 2026 Joint Employment Report, which is drafted on a yearly basis to analyse EU labour market and social trends, and approved conclusions on this report.

In the context of the 2026 European Semester, ministers adopted, for the first time, a Council recommendation on human capital. The aim of the recommendation is to provide guidance to member states on tackling labour and skills shortages across the EU, with a view to boosting competitiveness. The recommendation calls on countries to prioritise skills in strategic sectors and those that support the EU’s competitiveness and preparedness, with a particular focus on areas such as strengthening basic skills, vocational education and training (VET), and higher education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

In the context of the 2026 European Semester, ministers exchanged views on the topic of quality jobs in the context of AI-driven change. In particular, they focused on how the European Semester could support efforts to match skilled workers with appropriate job opportunities. They also considered additional measures that could be introduced at national and EU level to ensure that AI adoption in the workplace strengthens workers’ rights and fosters higher and more equal living and working conditions across all member states.

More information about the Council of the EU Meeting available here.