Vulnerable workers

Over the past two decades, labour markets across the EU have seen a marked rise in non-standard employment. While such arrangements can offer flexibility and better work–life balance, vulnerability arises when they are involuntary or when multiple non-standard characteristics intersect. This report analyses the prevalence of employment vulnerability across the EU-27 from 2009 to 2021, examining its links to working conditions, health outcomes and policy responses. The findings show that women, young people and migrants face the highest risk, with those experiencing multiple dimensions of vulnerability reporting poorer job prospects, limited training opportunities, less autonomy and higher rates of anxiety and depression. The report also reviews EU and national policy measures aimed at strengthening contractual certainty and supporting transitions to more secure employment.

This article examines why the 'freedom to stay' should sit at the heart of EU regional policy and how Eurofound's new six-dimension index measures the conditions that enable it, revealing that no region excels across all of them and making the case for tailored, place-based strategies to reduce territorial disparities.

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the sugar manufacturing sector.