Benchmarking the socio-economic performance of the EU social economy

EURICSE, CIRIEC, Spatial Foresight & others

European Union

2024

📊 Context of the Study This report, published by the European Union on October 16, 2024, presents the findings of a comprehensive study on the socio-economic performance of the social economy within the EU. The research was conducted by a collaboration of experts from the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE), the International Centre of Research and Information on the Public, Social and Cooperative Economy (CIRIEC), and Spatial Foresight. This initiative aligns with the goals outlined in the European Commission's 2021 Social Economy Action Plan, which aims to enhance the visibility and understanding of the social economy across Europe. 🏢 Overview of the Social Economy The study reveals that there are over 4.3 million social economy entities operating within the European Union. These entities employ at least 11.5 million individuals, accounting for approximately 6.3% of total employment across the EU. The social economy encompasses various organizational forms, including cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations, and social enterprises. Among these, associations dominate in number, with approximately 3.8 million, followed by cooperatives, which number around 240,000. 📈 Employment and Economic Impact Social enterprises play a significant role in the economy, with an estimated 246,000 such entities present. Of these, about 43,000 are recognized legally, while the remaining 203,000 operate in practice without formal recognition. Employment is significantly concentrated within associations and cooperatives, employing around 6.2 million and 3.3 million people, respectively. The sectors with the highest employment figures include health and social care (at least 3.3 million), education (702,000), and arts, culture, and entertainment (622,000). 🌍 Data Challenges and Variability Despite these promising figures, the study highlights ongoing challenges related to data availability and comparability across different EU member states. Only a limited number of countries possess comprehensive national statistics regarding the social economy. Additionally, there is notable variability in the recognition and understanding of the social economy concept, with some Western European nations exhibiting stronger traditions than others. 📅 Future Directions The report aims to enhance data collection efforts and improve the representation of the social economy at both national and EU levels. By working closely with researchers across all 27 Member States, the study seeks to establish a more robust framework for understanding the social economy's impact and potential growth within Europe.

European Union