THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON SME EMPLOYEES IN EU MEMBER STATES

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises play a very important role in the country's economy, as they contribute significantly to growth and job creation. However, small and medium-sized businesses around the world have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective of this paper is to investigate how the pandemic affected the performance of small and medium enterprises and how effective the measures taken by the state in combating the effects on this sector were. We also aim to highlight the measures taken to save employees from unemployment. Through its content, the paper indicates that the vast majority of employees were severely affected by the pandemic, with HoReCa employees being the ones who suffered the most. The data used in this research are from 2020, and the dependent variable is the number of employees in small and medium-sized enterprises, and the independent variables are the unemployment rate, the inflation rate, the annual growth rate of real GDP and the incidence rate of households. COVID per 100,000 inhabitants. Among the most important measures taken by the authorities to reduce the effects of the pandemic on SMEs and employees are the state granting 75% unemployment benefits, the use of new sources of funding (grants, state-funded programs, etc.).

Keywords

• covid-19
• employees
• unemployment
• measures taken