Menu
work
Roma students in Slovakia. Photo: Akos Stiller

Roma students in Slovakia. Photo: Akos Stiller

The Ten Billion Euro Opportunity: Unlocking the Potential of Roma Youth

May 2025 -2 minutes read

Nearly two million workers will exit the EU labour market annually over the next 15 years. At the same time, millions of young Roma—Europe’s youngest demographic—are excluded from economic life.

[Scroll down for full report]

Europe is facing a major workforce challenge. Nearly two million workers will exit the EU labour market every year for the next 15 years—just as labour shortages in essential sectors continue to grow. At the same time, millions of Roma youth, Europe’s youngest and fastest-growing ethnic group, remain excluded from employment, education and training. In fact, 56% of Roma aged 15–24 are not in education, employment or training—nearly five times the EU average.


This report presents a model showing that targeted investment in Roma youth—especially for roles in EU-identified shortage occupations—can deliver economic returns in as little as one to four years. In Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania alone, achieving Roma employment parity could generate between €1.95 billion and €10 billion in additional GDP annually.


EU policy frameworks and funding instruments—such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), ESF+, and the European Semester—are already in place to support this kind of inclusive investment. Yet Roma youth remain largely excluded due to poor outreach, inaccessible employment services, and persistent structural barriers including transport, childcare gaps and welfare disincentives. Polling confirms that Roma want to work—but current systems often fail to reach or support them.


To close this gap and realise the full economic potential of Roma youth, action must shift from policy commitments to effective delivery. That means:

  • Scaling up training in high-demand sectors
  • Removing the structural barriers that prevent participation
  • Involving Roma-led organisations as strategic partners
  • Delivering targeted, proactive outreach
Author(s)

Neda Korunovska

Vice President for Analytics and Results

Zeljko Jovanovic

President

Share this article
Send

The latest

Read about our work and the issues we are addressing.
An afterschool English class in Jarovnice, Slovakia. Photo: Akos Stiller
Voices

Europe’s Defence Plans Ignore a Key Threat: Roma Exclusion

4 July 2025
Europe's security relies not only on defence spending but also on fostering social cohesion. Including Roma communities is essential for internal stability.
Photo: Vanco Dzambaski
Press

Roma Foundation for Europe Condemns Surge in Anti-Roma Racism in Germany; Calls Out Irresponsible Journalism and Lack of Political Will

26 June 2025
The latest MIA annual report lays out the stark reality of racism faced by Roma and Sinti in Germany and elsewhere.
Photo: Opre Roma Serbia
Voices

Targeted, Stigmatised, Ignored: What the Ballymena Case Reveals

23 June 2025
When Roma are accused of crimes, alleged wrongdoing is too often twisted into a campaign against an entire community. In Northern Ireland, it has led to far-right violence and a troubling silence from those in power.

Browse by category

Campaigns

We are on the ground with our network to bring Roma power where it matters.
Campaigns

Events

Information about events from the Roma Foundation for Europe and its network members.
Events

Facts

Briefings, explainers and analyses that explain and highlight complex issues.
Facts

Press

Media coverage of our work, press releases and information for journalists.
Press

Voices

Perspectives, experiences and narratives from the community.
Voices
Offices
BrusselsBerlinBucharestBelgradeSkopje
Sign up for news

Sign up here so you don’t miss out on campaign updates, upcoming events and other news from the Roma Foundation for Europe and our network.

Sign up for our newsletter