- Game-changing technologies: Transforming production and employment in Europe
- Future of work: What can we learn from cooperatives and social enterprises?
- Cooperatives and social enterprises: Work and employment in selected countries
- Reshoring in Europe: Overview 2015–2018
- Born globals and their value chains
- Latvia: Social security implications of favourable tax rate for small businesses
- Trust and dialogue are the secrets to business success in times of crisis
- SMEs take distinct approach to recruitment
Small and medium-sized enterprises
30 September 2019
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are defined by the European Commission as having less than 250 employees. SMEs are the backbone of Europe's economy. They represent 99% of all businesses in the EU. In the past five years, they have created around 85% of new jobs and provided two-thirds of the total private sector employment in the EU. The European Commission considers SMEs and entrepreneurship as key to ensuring economic growth, innovation, job creation, and social integration in the EU. The European Commission policy in relation to SMEs supports start-ups and scale-ups in particular. Internationalisation beyond the EU increases SMEs' performance, enhances competitiveness, and reinforces sustainable growth.
Ongoing work
Toate (78)
Publications (50)
- Game-changing technologies: Transforming production and employment in Europe
- Future of work: What can we learn from cooperatives and social enterprises?
- Cooperatives and social enterprises: Work and employment in selected countries
- Reshoring in Europe: Overview 2015–2018
- Born globals and their value chains
- Trust and dialogue are the secrets to business success in times of crisis
- Job creation in SMEs: ERM annual report 2015
- Job creation in SMEs - Résumé
Articles (24)
- Latvia: Social security implications of favourable tax rate for small businesses
- United Kingdom: Small Business Act becomes law
- Project promotes innovation and employee participation in SMEs
- Social partners highlight competitiveness and development issues
- 2001 Territorial Employment Pact agreed for Vienna
- Forced labour compensation scheme faces difficulties
- Union unite against employers' proposals on supplementary pensions
- The state of trade unionism