Education and Employment Opportunities for the Roma

The Roma more than anyone else lost out in the transition to a market economy in the countries of Central and South Eastern Europe. Their unemployment rate is 100% in some rural areas and the Roma's dependece on government benefits is widespread. This article takes a look at unemployment and employment amongst the roma on the basis of two surveys carried out in 2002 and 2004. It is shown that lack of formal education cannot provide a full explanation of the relatively high unemployment rates faced by Roma and that at least part of the problem arises from discrimination in employment. Roma are also disproportionately employed in low quality jobs in the informal sector. This paper argues that programmes aimed at combatting labour market and income disadvantage must be based on the development of opportunities for autonomous income generation rather than on the public works temporary employment programmes currently prevelant