Researchers at the JRC's Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning (CRELL) have worked on the development of conceptual and methodological frameworks defining new European benchmark on the employability of young graduates since 2010. Now, it has been adopted by the Council of the European Union on 11 May.

The new European benchmark on the employability of young graduates developed by the Joint Research Centre in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Education and Culture, was adopted by the Council of the European Union on Friday 11 May 2012. According to the JRC, it will help monitor progress towards EU’s 2020 targets, which envisage an average of at least 82% of graduates (20-34 year old) being employed no more than three years after they have completed education. In December 2010, a Eurobarometer on graduate employability showed that employers, when it comes to graduate recruitment, value what is known as 'soft' skills just as much as sector-specific and computer skills.

Employability is a complex concept, which includes skills, attitudes and motivation. Additional factors which lie beyond education and training policy, involve labour market regulations, demography, the structure of the economy and the overall economic situation. This is one of the reason of the new benchmark. In addition, researchers have also evaluated the role played by specific education and training policies in within-country and cross-country variations in its value.

The European benchmark for education and training for employability complements those already adopted in May 2009 and one related to learning mobility adopted in November 2011. Researchers have worked on the development of conceptual and methodological frameworks defining the present benchmark since 2010.