The name is absent

Flexibility and security: an asymmetrical relationship?

7. Performance of the 4 countries
with regard to the main goals of
flexicurity

Looking back to the professed aims of the flexicurity agenda (see Diagram 5, section 4.1.) ⁷⁷, we
can observe how differently the 4 countries perform, with regard to 3 fundamental policy concerns
of this agenda: employability, vulnerability and economic efficiency.

7.1. Employability

Using specific dimensions to measure employability, such as training, educational attainment,
employment protection, and activation measures, significant differences across the 4 countries are
brought into light (see Eurofound, 2008e):

• the higher the rate of participation in lifelong learning programmes, the higher the level
of average employability. In Spain and Greece, both indicators are low, whilst in Den-
mark, both are high, with the Netherlands slightly lagging behind Denmark;

• the correlation between the average level of education and the average employability is
very high in Denmark and the Netherlands, whilst it is low in Spain and Greece;

• employment protection does not enhance employability: Denmark, with an average to
low job protection enjoys high employability, contrary to Spain and Greece that have a
high level of job protection but low employability, whilst the Netherlands seem to have
the best of both worlds as the labour force enjoys a relatively high job protection with
above average employability;

• unemployment benefit is positively linked to job security: workers in countries with gen-
erous unemployment benefits also feel less insecure and, consequently, more inclined to
attempt transitions, as is the case in Denmark.

77 Aims of the flexicurity agenda: to fight against labour market segmentation; to keep the skills of workers (especially
the more vulnerable ones) up to date; to help reintegrate people into employment; to help people cope with rapid
change; to support safe transitions; to provide people with income security and support (disability, long-term care);
to enhance work / life balance; and to contribute to sound and financially sustainable budgetary policies (European
Commission, 2007b).

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