In today's society, the issue of employing hard-to-employ groups such as the homeless people and ex-prisoners, causes deep social, economic and moral dilemmas. These individuals face multiple forms of exclusion, hindering their integration into society. Given this complex issue, the research papers aim to look at the current challenges and identify approaches that facilitate the employment and integration of these groups. This work is focused on examining and analyzing the situation of hard-to-employ groups through a review of the relevant scientific literature and the study of case studies. The goals of this research are to understand the specific obstacles and potential of these groups and to identify examples of good practice that provide hope for their better labor market inclusion and in society. The results of this research include four examples of good practice: CERANEO in Croatia, the company Ravlić in Croatia, Emmaus Solidarite in France and The Bee Collective in the Netherlands. Through the analysis of these examples, the key success factors in terms of support, training and creation of work opportunities for hard-to-employ groups are highlighted. A comparison between examples of practice in Croatia and the Netherlands and France provides a deeper insight into different strategies and approaches that are directed towards the same goals. In conclusion, the importance of individualized approaches, cooperation with relevant stakeholders and the creation of incentive measures for employment is emphasized in order to ensure the successful and sustainable integration of hard-to-employ groups into the labor market. These findings imply the need for continued efforts to improve educational programs, post-employment support and promote awareness to create fairer and more inclusive societies. Keywords: hard-to-employ people, homeless people, ex-prisoners, Croatia, European Union