Given the current recession, sustaining employment and the upskilling and retraining of workers who have lost their jobs will prove crucial in the months ahead.

The European Social Fund (ESF) objectives are implemented in Ireland through the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013. Since Ireland joined the EU, the ESF has invested over €6 billion in education, training and employment creation in Ireland.

In the period 2007-2013 the ESF will seek to addresses issues relating to the upskilling of workers, support for increased participation by marginalized groups in the workforce to support equality and prevent discrimination in the workforce.