More than 800 people across Bosnia and Herzegovina have gained employment opportunities thanks to the EU4Employment project, funded by the European Union and Sweden and implemented by the International Labour Organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During the project, more than 2,000 individuals – including youth, women from rural areas, persons with disabilities, Roma women and men, and the long-term unemployed – received comprehensive, tailored support, including training, counselling, and job matching. As a result, at least 800 people are now employed, 60% of whom are women.
At the final conference, held today at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Republika Srpska, beneficiaries, institutions, and partners gathered to mark the project’s achievements. Participants had the opportunity to hear first-hand stories from beneficiaries whose lives have been transformed through employment, either with employers or through self-employment.
“This project is yet another concrete example of the European Union’s support to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We know that job creation and economic growth are top priorities for people across the country, which is why we focused on those facing the greatest barriers in the labour market. Through this programme, more than 6,600 people were reached, and around 800 secured employment or started their own businesses. These results go beyond numbers – they represent dignity and real opportunities for a better life. The European Union has invested €4 million in this programme, but our support does not stop here. We have also launched a new programme, EU4People, which will enable the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue working in this direction and create new jobs and better living conditions for the most vulnerable,” said Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Ambassador of Sweden to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Helena Lagerlöf, emphasised the importance of inclusive approaches to employment and the project’s long-term impact: “Good results from this project show that coordinated efforts can deliver lasting impact and foster more inclusive labour markets. At the same time, as labour markets continue to evolve, further reforms are essential to help the country adapt—ensuring that skills match emerging demands, that new opportunities are created, and that decent, inclusive working conditions are upheld. Sweden remains committed to supporting these efforts and to working with partners to build a resilient and inclusive economies and vibrant labour market for all.”
Particular emphasis was placed on the partnerships that enabled the implementation of project activities, as well as on the sustainability of the achieved results and their potential to contribute to the further development of an inclusive labour market.
Speaking about the concrete results and the importance of partnerships in project implementation, Claire Harasty, Director of the ILO Office for Central and Eastern Europe, stated:
“Employment outcomes of the EU4Employment project have significantly exceeded initial expectations. But beyond the numbers, we should remember that each result represents a person whose life has been positively, and often profoundly, changed. These are women and men who, after long periods outside the labour market, have found employment, gained an income, and regained a sense of dignity. They are now able to look to the future with confidence and contribute to their communities.”
During the conference, concrete project results and their impact on people’s lives across Bosnia and Herzegovina were presented. The European Union continues to invest in the employment sector through programmes that strengthen the employability of vulnerable groups and labour market systems. The results of the EU4Employment project have laid a strong foundation for the ongoing EU4People project, also funded by the European Union. The new project, worth €5.5 million, was launched in March this year with the aim of modernising employment services and strengthening institutional capacities at all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
