Social inclusion and social development

High participation rates among young people in education and low income inequality make an important contribution to ensuring equal opportunities for participation in society and the labour market. However, adult participation in education and training and the participation of unemployed people in active labour market programmes remain low. Despite social transfers, a considerable share of households and vulnerable groups continue to face poverty, social exclusion and housing deprivation. Population ageing has long posed challenges to the financial sustainability of the pension system and has been accompanied by insufficient progress in developing home-based care services. Long waiting times and shortages of healthcare professionals remain among the most pressing challenges.