The recent eurozone economic downturn has increased unemployment in 17 Member States, with Eurostat statistics (October 2012) estimating that approximately 25.5 million European citizens were unemployed in the EU27, a rise of 49,000 from July. Long-term unemployment is one of the main concerns of policy makers. Apart from its financial and social effects on personal life, long-term unemployment negatively affects social cohesion and, ultimately, will stifle economic growth.Unemployment and social exclusion are affecting disadvantaged, vulnerable groups deeply as families with children and a low income struggle with a lack of affordable childcare and migrants experience unprecedented exclusion from the job market. Moreover, the youth unemployment rate in the EU was at 22.5% in July, while the long-term unemployment rate has reached a historically high level in most EU countries; 10.7 million in the first quarter of 2012.The Europe 2020 Strategy launched by the European Commission in 2010 aims to target employment, poverty and social exclusion, among other issues, by coordinating national and European policy efforts. In line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, the European Employment Strategy seeks to implement measures designed to encourage people to remain in work or find a new job. The Strategy seeks to create more and better jobs throughout the EU by promoting a life-cycle approach to work, lifelong learning and improving support for those seeking a job, as well as ensuring equal opportunities.This timely International Symposium provides a timely opportunity to discuss the root challenges behind current unemployment trends and highlight some of the projects and initiatives which have been implemented to tackle such issues in an innovative and experimental manner. In order to be effective, approaches need to prevent financial exclusion and discrimination of vulnerable groups and promote their active inclusion and participation in societies and as such, this Symposium will allow delegates to exchange best practices and consider mechanisms for overcoming existing employment gaps.