Current research
Work programmes
Eurofound works on the basis of four-year rolling programmes which are adopted by its Governing Board. This four-year programme is implemented in annual programmes of work where projects are established to meet the overall objectives.
Research priorities
Eurofound's strategic objective for 2013–2016 is to provide high-quality, timely and policy-relevant knowledge as input to better informed policies in four priority areas:
- Increasing labour market participation and combating unemployment by creating jobs, improving labour market functioning and promoting integration
- Improving working conditions and making work sustainable throughout the life course
- Developing industrial relations to ensure equitable and productive solutions in a changing policy context
- Improving standards of living and promoting social cohesion in the face of economic disparities and social inequalities
Eurofound will provide facts and figures, show trends and analyse policies and practices as the basis of evidence-based advice for the development of policy responses in these four policy priority areas.
Eurofound projects in 2013
In 2013, Eurofound will focus on developing its capacity in the area of policy evaluation. The aim is to improve support to policymakers in identifying and understanding which policies in the employment and social area have been more effective than others. Eurofound’s core activity of monitoring developments across Member States is of particular relevance in 2013 as increasing divergence between Member States is a key concern. Up-to-date information from the 2011–2012 European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) and from secondary analysis of the fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) will provide relevant information on divergence and convergence between Member States. Results and analysis from Eurofound’s ongoing labour market monitoring are also expected to be of key interest in 2013 as they can provide valuable input for the policy debate on how to make labour markets more dynamic and inclusive.
This policy debate is fuelled by the immediate problem of high unemployment rates in many Member States but also by the challenge of a shrinking working age population. The issue of sustainable work will therefore become a focus for research on working conditions in 2013. Discussions linked to the mechanisms of new economic governance will be supported with relevant information, for instance on the evolution of working time and of wages. The relationship between new forms of governance and social dialogue will be monitored using Eurofound’s long-standing observatory on industrial relations.
For more information on Eurofound's current projects, please see the projects page.
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