Abstract: Three main issues are addressed in this chapter. The first section, ‘Dimensions of employment disadvantage’, points out that although the central policy orientation for enhancing social inclusion in Europe is increasing the employment rate, this is at best only a partial solution, because of the restricted possibilities for social participation and ongoing learning and training that many low-skilled jobs offer. The second section, ‘Employment disadvantage in the life course’, shows that not only does low-skilled employment provide rather limited life opportunities but also enhances the risk of persistent labour-market marginalization. The last section, ‘Welfare and work: the future agenda’, addresses the fact that the principal emphasis in social policy has been on tackling the risk of social exclusion after people have entered unemployment (through the application of training and incentives), whereas, a long-term preventative programme is needed that will protect people from the risk of labour-market marginalization by ensuring continuous skill enhancement over their working lives.

Keywords: disadvantage, employment, Europe, labour market, labour-market marginalization, learning, low-skilled jobs, skills, social exclusion, social inclusion, social participation, social policy, training, welfare state, working life,