In a previous post, I discussed trends in agricultural employment and the impact of CAP policies on these trends. I noted how policy-makers are asking whether EU agricultural policy could do more, or be more effective, in contributing to job creation. Last year the European Parliament passed a resolution on how the CAP could improve job creation in rural areas. The issue will also be raised in the Commission’s Communication on modernising and simplifying the CAP which is expected towards the end of this year.
In this post, I discuss the role that the CAP could play in promoting jobs. I confine myself to the question of job creation in agriculture and its related value chains as part of the rural economy. Some, though not all, rural areas face challenges in terms of low incomes, negative population growth, a lack of jobs and a high rate of unemployment. There are important synergies between the agricultural and rural economies; agriculture and its value chains remain an important contributor to rural employment in many rural regions, while a vibrant rural economy offers opportunities for off-farm employment which can help to sustain agricultural employment.… Read the rest
Promoting rural jobs through the CAP
