Employment in Europe 2008

[Excerpt] Now in its 20th edition, the annual Employment in Europe report has become an indispensable aid for analysis that supports the European Commission and the Member States in their joint efforts to develop and implement effective policies in the field of employment under the Lisbon strategy. This year’s report comes in the midst of very uncertain times for the European – and indeed the global – economy. Following several years of sound economic growth and generally very strong employment expansion, the European Union now faces a significant risk of a cyclical downturn for the first time since the Lisbon strategy was relaunched. A major test undoubtedly lies ahead