Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

15The New Policy Agenda for eWork in EuropePeter Johnston, Head <strong>of</strong> Unit, <strong>European</strong> Commission– DG Information SocietyThe <strong>European</strong> Council in Lisbon in March 2000 set a new strategic goal for the Union for the nextdecade : to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy capable <strong>of</strong>sustained economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.The overall aim is to raise the employment rate to near 70 % and to increase the proportion <strong>of</strong>working-age women in employment to more that 60 % in 2010.In March 2001, <strong>European</strong> Heads <strong>of</strong> State reviewed progress at the <strong>European</strong> Council in Stockholm.Europe enjoyed 3.5% growth in 2000, and unemployment fell to its lowest level since 1991. In2001, despite the economic slowdown, Europe still has the best prospects for sustained economicgrowth for over 25 years. The Commission’s recent report shows that employment expanded by1.8% in 2000 to 63.3% <strong>of</strong> the workforce – 3 million more people in jobs than in 1999, and 10million more than 5 years ago.Particular efforts are still needed to attract women to the knowledge economy and IT pr<strong>of</strong>essionswhere they are still underrepresented. Progress has been made : in 2000, 60% <strong>of</strong> new jobs weretaken up by women, with a million more women joining the labour force, and their employmentrate reached 54%.It is now clear that innovation and technology change are driving job creation. Investments in ICThave contributed over 0.5% per year to growth since 1995, and job creation has been particularlystrong in the ICT and related business services with over 3.5 million new jobs. The scope forfurther innovation and gains in productivity is also enormous: liberation <strong>of</strong> nearly 50% <strong>of</strong> Europe’sworkforce from the constraints <strong>of</strong> the keyboard and CRT display (in the proper use <strong>of</strong> which lessthan 20% have been properly trained) can improve work satisfaction and efficiency for a widespectrum <strong>of</strong> people, and allow companies to rethink work organisation within the <strong>of</strong>fice as well asoutside.Use <strong>of</strong> Information and communication technologies is also still growing. 45% <strong>of</strong> all workers usea computer – 74% <strong>of</strong> all “white collar” workers. As many as 20% <strong>of</strong> workers also use a computerat home for work purposes: although only 1 in 10 are yet connected to their employer’s Intranet.Over 120 million (35%) <strong>European</strong>s use the Internet from home via a PC and telephone connection(30% <strong>of</strong> the world total), and this is likely to rise to over 200 million by 2003; over 65% use digitalmobile phones, and these will become a second, and probably preferred, method <strong>of</strong> accessingInternet services when 3G capabilities become widely available in 2003.The views expressed in this article are those <strong>of</strong> the authors and do not necessarily refl ect the <strong>of</strong>fi cial <strong>European</strong>Commission’s view on the subject.