Employment Accessibility Act 2025: The accessibility law that will change recruitment websites forever
In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force and if you're a recruitment agency operating within the EU, it's time to take notice.
The EAA is a game-changer, requiring that all digital products and services – including recruitment websites and candidate portals, meet strict accessibility standards. That means making your site inclusive to everyone, including the 135 million+ people in Europe living with a disability. Failure to comply could result in legal penalties, damage to your brand, and missed revenue.
At Access Volcanic, accessibility isn't an afterthought, it's built into everything we do. We’re here to help you understand the EAA, what it means for your recruitment website, and how our platform will help you stay compliant.
What is the European Accessibility Act 2025 (EAA)?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a landmark EU law that mandates digital accessibility across sectors. For recruitment agencies, that means your website and digital services must be inclusive to all users – regardless of ability. You’ll also be required to publish an accessibility statement outlining your site’s standards and efforts.
If your website isn’t accessible, you may be at risk of:
- Legal non-compliance in the EU
- Excluding candidates with disabilities
- A significant hit to your brand reputation
Accessibility under the EAA isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about making sure everyone can interact with your brand online, regardless of their ability.
Why accessibility matters in recruitment
Disabled jobseekers apply for 60% more roles than non-disabled candidates, but 69% leave a website immediately if they encounter accessibility issues. Inaccessible design isn’t just a bad experience, it’s a lost opportunity to place people in suitable roles. When your site isn’t accessible, you’re closing the door to huge segments of top talent and potential clients too.
What does your recruitment website need to do?
To comply with the EAA, your website must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard. That means:
- Readable content with strong colour contrast
- Keyboard navigation for users who can’t use a mouse
- Accessible forms with proper labels and instructions
- Alt text for all non-text elements (like images and graphics)
- Clear focus states for navigation
- Avoiding colour-only indicators for critical information
- Semantic HTML markup to support assistive technologies
How Volcanic keeps you compliant by default
Access Volcanic websites are designed from the ground up to meet accessibility standards. When you build with Volcanic, you're not just getting a high-converting website, you're getting peace of mind.
- Inclusive design methodology: Accessibility is baked into every build through best practices refined by our Head of Design.
- Recite Me integration: Every Volcanic site includes our accessibility toolbar, giving users control over their digital experience.
- Compliant by default: From colour contrast to navigation, our templates are designed to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
- Built for scale: Mobile-first, responsive layouts that work across all devices and browsers.
- Future-proof components: Our tools evolve with changing standards, keeping your site one step ahead.
- Make edits with ease: Our new drag and drop Design Studio gives you the power to make updates and changes to your site with ease.
We don’t leave compliance to chance, we design for it.
Looking for proof?
Read our blog on top tips for designing an accessible recruitment website from Shanma Ahmed, our Head of Design.
Or explore the insights from our accessibility partner Recite Me’s EEA Compliance Hub.
Ready to stay compliant and competitive?
See how Access Volcanic makes accessibility easy.
