Spain suffers from a combination of high unemployment and a lack of skilled workers to fill new openings in the labour market, which has caused serious economic imbalances. Within this context, the ESF co-finances measures aimed at boosting skills levels, such as improving overall levels of vocational training and adjusting the university education system to ensure that skills and qualifications increasingly match new labour market requirements. SMEs are also recognised as a potential source of sustainable employment growth and special attention is given to improving their viability. The ESF also provides assistance to projects which help the structural adjustment of Spain's less prosperous regions, regions affected by industrial decline and predominantly rural regions. Equal opportunities Underlying all the ESF's work in Spain is the principle of equal opportunities between men and women.
Specific assistance is available for the long-term unemployed and young women seeking employment.
It is estimated that over 50 per cent of all ESF beneficiaries in Spain are women. These measures focus on facilitating the professional integration of young people seeking employment. The aim of the ESF's co-financing is to support these groups in obtaining qualifications that match the requirements and needs of the labour market. Objective 3 also promotes equal opportunities between men and women in the labour market. The majority of Objective 4 activities in Spain focus on a new, global approach to extend continuing training to the employees of as many companies as possible and in particular to SMEs.