Find information on employment and support for persons with disabilities on the EURES portal

The EURES portal’s Living and working section contains detailed information from all 27 EU countries, plus Switzerland and Iceland, about the support that is available to people with disabilities. This new feature allows people to discover the benefits and assistance provided in different countries and to easily compare them.

What information is available

There are country files on disability services for each of the 29 countries.

Each dedicated page includes:

the legal definition of disability and the procedure that is needed in the country for a disability to be recognised;
employment rights and benefits that people with disabilities are entitled to;
the social security and healthcare provision that is relevant to employment in that country;
practical guidance on accessibility and relocation (e.g. travel, housing);
contact points for national services.

Practical examples around Europe

Information on country living and working pages is listed in each case under ‘Employment and support for persons with disabilities’. A wide range of useful details include, for example, information on where jobseekers must apply to have their disability recognised and what type of medical information needs to be submitted. The pages also spell out the access that recognition gives in each country to rights or support measures (e.g. workplace adaptations, social benefits). Employers can find out if they can access funding and support options when hiring people with disabilities, while jobseekers can explore the options around easier access to public services (e.g. transport, accessible housing). The pages also include links to local websites where further information about a range of wider services for disabled services is available.

Employment and support for persons with disabilities

The overall aim of the EURES portal’s new feature is to access employment opportunities across Europe by removing barriers and promoting inclusion in the European labour market. This is an important step for the estimated 1 in 4 adults in the EU who have a disability – equivalent to about 107 million people. The countries are working to ensure all people with disabilities can fully enjoy their rights – including free movement – and take a full and active part in society, without being discriminated against. This effort is particularly important given the labour-market disadvantages faced by people with disabilities: in 2020, 1 in 5 were unemployed, while 1 in 3 were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with women and the elderly most affected.

While you’ll find this information a useful first place to look when thinking about moving abroad, even more advice is available from EURES Advisers. Chat with a EURES Adviser.

Explore the information available for the country you are interested in on the Living and working section of the EURES portal.

Disability in the EU – facts and figures

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