EU Invests in Scaling Social Innovations to Address Long-Term Unemployment 

At a glance: 

• €22 million EU investment into solving long-term unemployment issues 

• 9 projects selected from 76 applicants 

• 15 EU Member States to benefit 

• 17 local social innovation models to be scaled 

The results of the “Innovative Approaches Tackling Long-Term Unemployment” Call, launched under the European Social Fund Plus Social Innovation+ initiative, are now confirmed. Out of 76 applications received, 9 top-ranked projects have been selected, receiving a combined €22 million to scale up or transfer proven social innovations that support the reintegration of long-term unemployed individuals into the labour market. 

“This high level of interest confirms what we already see on the ground: social innovation works. It offers practical, people-first solutions to complex labour market challenges. We already have local models that show real results. Now we need to support to scale them up across borders. The investment in social innovation pays back, both socially and economically,” said Neringa Poškutė, head of the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation.  

Scaling solutions that work 

17 effective local models to tackle long-term unemployment will now be scaled up through 9 transnational projects, reaching communities in 15 EU Member States. Each of the selected initiatives builds on methods that have already demonstrated success by strengthening ties with local employers, offering personalised coaching, and creating inclusive job opportunities. The ultimate aim is simple but ambitious: to give people who have been left out of the labour market a fair and lasting chance to rejoin it with dignity. 

“This Call is not just about getting people back into jobs. It’s about helping them believe in themselves again. People who have been out of work for a long time often lose confidence, and many feel invisible. We want to change that. We want to help them try something new, gain skills, and feel supported. These projects will reach people from all walks of life, like women returning after maternity leave, older adults in rural areas, people with disabilities or health conditions, and many more who are too often overlooked. We know how hard it can be to take that first step. Even walking into an interview can feel overwhelming. But when people are seen, supported, and given a real chance, something powerful happens. They don’t just find jobs. They rediscover themselves. That’s the real goal,” said Miglė Aleksonytė, Head of Project Management Group at the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation. 

Looking Ahead 

The selected transnational projects will run for 36 months, working in partnership with local employers, municipalities, non-profits, and civil society. They will serve as testbeds for adapting successful innovations to new local contexts, showing how tailored, community-based solutions can be scaled across borders. All projects will take part in mutual learning activities and contribute to the EU’s Social Innovation Match platform to ensure that the lessons learned are shared widely and help strengthen Europe’s social innovation ecosystem. 

The results will go beyond immediate employment outcomes. They will help shape the next generation of EU policy on employment and inclusion, and reinforce the case for continued investment in social innovation.