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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

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