[1][2] Its activities started on 17 October 2019 and the agency is expected to reach a yearly budget of €50 million and 140 staff by 2024.

ELA also has an important role to play in facilitating and ensuring effective labour mobility in Europe, in particular by activities of European Employment Services (EURES).

[6] On 13 June 2019, the Commission announced that Bratislava, Slovakia would serve as the agency's host city.

[7] The agency moved to its official seat from Brussels to Bratislava on 1 September 2021 and signed the Headquarters agreement with Slovakia on 16 October 2021.

The inauguration of the premises took place 9 November 2021 in the presence of Commissioner Nikolas Schmit, Prime Minister Eduard Heger, Minister of Labour of Slovakia, and hosted by Ambassador Cosmin Boiangiu, the Executive Director of ELA.