Accessibility: Europe’s hidden growth engine – POLITICO

Europe faces major challenges to its competitiveness, including low productivity growth, labour shortages, demographic decline and technological gaps. While these issues dominate economic discussions, a significant opportunity often remains overlooked: accessibility. Around 90 million people in the European Union live with disabilities, and this number is expected to increase as the population ages. Yet employment rates among people with disabilities remain far below the EU average, leaving a substantial pool of talent, skills and purchasing power underutilized.

Accessibility is not only a social or legal issue; it is also an economic strategy. By making products, services, buildings and digital platforms accessible, businesses can reach a wider audience, including people with disabilities, older adults, individuals with temporary limitations and consumers who simply benefit from better design. Rather than serving a niche market, accessibility expands markets and improves experiences for everyone.

For many organizations, accessibility is still perceived as a compliance requirement or an additional cost. In reality, it should be viewed as an investment in quality, innovation and growth. Barriers that exclude people with disabilities often create difficulties for all users. Removing those barriers improves usability, customer satisfaction, brand reputation and commercial performance. Accessibility therefore contributes directly to competitiveness and business success.