Spatial Distribution of Disabled People and Measures to Promote their Labour Market Inclusion through Strategic Steps and Perspectives in the European Union, with special respect to Hungary and Sweden

The measures and priorities for social inclusion get an increasing emphasis in the European Union. However, there are inequalities on regional, social and economic level. The struggle against poverty and social exclusion is a very important task in the different strategies. The economic and social changes of the recent decades have had significant effects on the social integration and labour market participation of disabled people. (Belicza R. et al 2007, Diossi 2013, Timar 2006). As a result of the globalisation, increasing emphasis is put on the social inclusion of disabled people. Every country faces with major challenges to find solutions for the social integration of this group (Belicza R. et al 2007). The driving of people living with disabilities back to work can be facilitated by exploitation of individual capabilities and resources applying the philosophy of lifelong learning and increasing the accessibility of educational institutions. The mobility and economic activity must be enhanced to the learning and the more intensive economy finding the balance between the labour demand and supply. My research study has set the following targets in disability sciences, legal, political and empirical approaches. Particular emphasis has been put on methodological compilation both in the empirical and the applied research. In addition to domestic and international literature it was considered important to present legislative and regulatory frameworks due to the complexity of the subject, which greatly helped the integration of disabled people. It is important to know attitudes and norms associated with disability science, which demonstrate relationships with strategic steps struggling against social exclusion. The territorial focus of this study is the European Union (EU-27) in general, and two member countries, Hungary and Sweden, in particular. My main goal is to demonstrate the changes of the past 10-20 years highlighting those factors, which can contribute to the increasing of labour market participation of this social group. Summarizing the data on disabled people in the databases of EUROSTAT, OECD, ESPON, Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH in Hungarian) and Statistics Sweden it is possible to get a more comprehensive picture of the inequalities involved in Pearson correlation, Factorial- and cluster analyses. The differences can be decreased by strengthening of collaboration, cooperation and equality. The ’region-specific’ development measures may offer appropriate conditions for everybody to find work near their place of residence. More and more disabled people could be in a better position by involving grants to improve their quality of life. However, the way is long to achieve economic welfare, but we have a chance for it if we work on such regional projects which serve the total population and among them the disabled people. Social inclusion should be increased by support of improved conditions of peripheral territories promoting further work rehabilitation, development preparatory work and participation of open labour market. Through quantitative methods of analysis it was concluded that the polarization has diminished in previous years. I consider it important to emphasize after the enlargement in 2004 – partly due to the support system –a mild growth started in employment. In case of some developing countries large differences can be observed. In peripheral areas the disadvantages increased. Widespread statistical survey can contribute to realizing further strategic steps, which can help disabled people. Opportunities in work rehabilitation and developing-preparing employment should be supported in more and more places. Network connections and cooperations should be strengthened with the Social Work Centres, local governments, associations, foundations, public sectors and the government. It is difficult to predict the future, but there are positive tendencies.