European Social Fund

ESF Policy Fields

The five ESF Policy Fields are:

• Developing and promoting active labour market policies
• Promoting equal opportunities for all in accessing the labour market, with particular emphasis on those exposed to social exclusion
• Promoting and improving training, education and counselling as part of a lifelong learning policy
• Promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce, innovation and adaptability in work organisation, developing entrepreneurship and conditions facilitating job creation, and enhancing skills and boosting human potential in research, science and technology
• Specific measures to improve women's access to and participation in the labour market, including their career development, their access to new job opportunities and to starting up of businesses, and to reduce vertical and horizontal segregation on the basis of sex in the labour market