Mapping the Impact of Social Enterprises Across Europe
We are excited to announce the launch of the European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM) 2023–2024, the third edition of Europe’s most comprehensive survey on social enterprises. Conducted biennially, ESEM continues to build on the success and findings of the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 editions. It remains a crucial resource for informing policymakers, funders, and ecosystem builders about the realities, needs, and achievements of social enterprises across the continent.
Led by Euclid Network (EN) at the European level and implemented nationally by dedicated country partners, the ESEM survey gathers insights that feed directly into both national (xSEM) and European-level reports. This latest edition includes responses from 1,807 social enterprises operating in 30 European countries, offering one of the most robust and diverse data sets on the sector to date.
The 2023–2024 ESEM reveals that the most common sectors of operation for social enterprises are human health and social work, accounting for 29.4 percent, followed by education at 25.2 percent and other service activities at 15.2 percent. In terms of legal structure, the private limited liability company and association remain the most common forms, with 79 percent of social enterprises maintaining the same legal form as when they were founded. On average, these enterprises are ten years old and are most commonly found in the early or late implementation stage, or in the growth or steady stage of development.
The majority of social enterprises continue to operate at the local or national level, although nearly 30 percent now report operating at an international scale. The median number of employees per social enterprise is seven, with five being full-time equivalents. A strong commitment to inclusion and social impact is evident, as 46.5 percent of enterprises employ individuals with migrant backgrounds and 43.5 percent employ individuals with disabilities. Moreover, more than half of all social enterprises engage at least one volunteer in their operations.
Education and gender equity remain central strengths of the sector. On average, 66.9 percent of social enterprise employees hold a university degree. Women are well represented across all levels of social enterprise governance and leadership, reflecting the inclusive values of the sector. Innovation continues to thrive, with 87.1 percent of social enterprises having introduced at least one new innovation. In terms of future growth, 44.8 percent of respondents expect to increase their number of employees.
The insights from ESEM play an essential role in shaping better policy, funding, and legal frameworks for social enterprises across Europe. The European Report provides an aggregated view of the trends and characteristics at the continental level, while individual Country Reports offer deeper dives into national contexts.
Together, we can continue to strengthen Europe’s social enterprise ecosystem and support its contribution to a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future.
