Combining three Eurostat datasets from 2005 to 2022 for 29 European countries, this thesis

examines how social spending on passive support, activation, and facilitation policies affects the disability employment gap (DEG) in the European Union. The findings suggest that demand-side activation policies, such as wage subsidies, are generally more effective at reducing the DEG compared to supply-side measures like training programs. Work-related facilitation measures, including workplace accommodations, also tend to decrease the DEG. These associations are most pronounced for severely disabled and male job seekers, suggesting the need for targeted approaches considering the type of disability and gender disparities.