The European Union is preparing for a possible jobs crisis, with as many as 1.3 million positions at risk. The ongoing war in the Middle East is pushing up energy prices and disrupting important industries.
On Wednesday, European Commissioner for Jobs Roxana Mînzatu warned about these risks while presenting the EU’s 2026 Spring Semester Package, which aims to help member states manage increasing economic challenges.
Roxana Mînzatu, the European Commissioner for Jobs, gave this strong warning.
She made this statement on Wednesday while presenting the EU’s 2026 Spring Semester Package, which is meant to guide member states through growing economic challenges.
“Industries that use a lot of energy are especially at risk,” Mînzatu said, explaining that rising energy prices are putting pressure on both companies and households.
She emphasised that low-income families will bear the worst effects of the crisis unless governments put targeted support measures in place.
The conflict, which began after Israel and the US carried out strikes on Iran in February, has already slowed EU growth and increased inflation, according to the latest forecasts from the bloc.
The Commission is concerned about growing differences in growth and inflation among member states, which could hurt competitiveness.
Beyond the immediate risks, the Semester Package also points out Europe’s deeper problems, such as a lack of skilled workers in important sectors.
These sectors include cybersecurity, quantum computing, AI, and semiconductors. Mînzatu said that 77% of European companies see a lack of skilled workers as a barrier to investment, and they blame poor working conditions for not being able to attract skilled workers.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has made this a priority.
She says that keeping Europe competitive is especially important during these uncertain times.
The package calls for stronger industrial policies, better capital markets, and less reliance on outside powers like China and the US.
But progress depends on whether member states are willing to act. This has always been a challenge in EU policymaking.
For now, the biggest threat is the risk of energy shocks from the war, which could undermine jobs, families, and Europe’s fragile economic recovery.
