Menu
work
Photo: Future of Work

Photo: Future of Work

Bringing "The Ten Billion Euro Opportunity" to the Future of Work Summit [video]

November 2025 -1 minute read

At the Future of Work Summit in Sofia, Zeljko Jovanovic argued that investing in Roma is vital to addressing Europe’s shrinking workforce.

On 21 October, we brought our message about the benefits of including Roma in the workforce to Sofia, Bulgaria, where we participated in the Future of Work Summit organised by Kapital. The event brought together corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, human resources professionals and others to discuss how technology, AI and shifting labour dynamics are transforming workplaces, skills and the workforce itself.

In his keynote presentation, Zeljko Jovanovic shared findings from our recent report, The Ten Billion Euro Opportunity. He highlighted the untapped economic potential of Roma inclusion, explaining how Bulgaria—and Europe as a whole—could benefit from investing in education, training and employment for Roma. He argued that closing employment gaps would not only lift Roma out of poverty but also add billions to national economies each year.

In Bulgaria, as in many other European countries, the workforce is shrinking while the Roma population is young and growing. Investing in Roma is not only a matter of fairness but also a smart response to demographic and economic realities.

Author(s)

Roma Foundation for Europe

Share this article
Send

The latest

Read about our work and the issues we are addressing.
Press

Families Defending Ukraine from the Home Front Risk Being Left Behind by Reconstruction Efforts

25 June 2026
As donors gather in Gdańsk for the Ukraine Recovery Conference, Roma families who stayed in their communities under fire are struggling to access compensation for war damage.
Photo: Akos Stiller
Voices

Too Foreign for Home, Too Foreign for Abroad

23 June 2026
What does it mean to build a life between places? A personal reckoning with migration, identity and the politics of belonging.
Press

As EU Sounds Alarm on Workforce Shortages, Roma Offer the Answer

3 June 2026
The European Commission's recommendations put workforce development at the heart of economic governance. Six million Roma—young, motivated and largely outside the formal economy—are exactly the untapped strength Europe says it needs.

Browse by category

Campaigns

We are on the ground with our network to bring Roma power where it matters.
Campaigns

Events

Information about events from the Roma Foundation for Europe and its network members.
Events

Facts

Briefings, explainers and analyses that explain and highlight complex issues.
Facts

Press

Media coverage of our work, press releases and information for journalists.
Press

Voices

Perspectives, experiences and narratives from the community.
Voices
Offices
BrusselsBerlinBucharestBelgradeSkopje
Sign up for news

Sign up here so you don’t miss out on campaign updates, upcoming events and other news from the Roma Foundation for Europe and our network.

Sign up for our newsletter