COVID-19

This report explores the drivers of economic and social convergence in Europe, using a selected set of economic and social indicators to examine trends in the performance of individual Member States. It also investigates what role the Economic and Monetary Union plays in convergence, particularly in southern and eastern Member States. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on convergence is analysed and initial conclusions are drawn about the impact of EU recovery packages and their ability to prevent divergence.

This report offers a backward look at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work and life of Europeans. The main focus is on Eurofound’s e-survey ‘ Living, working and COVID-19’ which was launched on 9 April 2020 just after the onset of the crisis. Through four rounds of the survey (two in 2020 and two in 2021), the range of questions changed to match the evolving situation and to understand the effects on the everyday lives of citizens and workers. A fifth round of the e-survey is planned for March–May 2022, with initial findings available in July.

The COVID-19 crisis has increased inequality between social groups in health, housing, employment, income and well-being. While a small part of society was able to hold on to or increase its wealth, other groups such as women, young people, older people, people with disabilities, low- and middle-income earners and those with young children were acutely affected by the pandemic. Drawing on current research on how to best measure multidimensional inequality, this report highlights recent trends in inequality in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

Lockdown measures and the economic shift following the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a widening of the gender divide between men and women, putting at risk some of the gender equality gains that had been made in previous years. This report analyses changes in the distribution of paid and unpaid work, along with care and domestic responsibilities, among men and women during the crisis. It also explores the impact of the pandemic on the well-being of women and men.

The hospital sector has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals and their workers are on the frontline in the fight against the virus, and they face a number of significant challenges in terms of resources, work organisation and working conditions. This study will explore the role of social dialogue and collective bargaining in how the sector is adapting to the pandemic. What kinds of changes have been introduced, either through social dialogue or collective bargaining? Are the changes temporary or permanent?

Given that compliance with lockdown measures is a first line of defence against COVID-19, maintaining trust in institutions is vital to ensure a coordinated, comprehensive and effective response to the pandemic. This report investigates developments in institutional and interpersonal trust across time, with a particular emphasis on the COVID-19 pandemic period and its impact. It examines the link between trust and discontent and investigates the effect of multidimensional inequalities as a driver of distrust.

A new European Disability Strategy was launched in 2021 with the aim of intensifying progress on ensuring the full participation of people with  disabilities in society. The increase of EU policy focus on people with disabilities is timely: the COVID-19 pandemic magnified the challenges they faced in many spheres of their lives.

Rapporten redegør for covid-19-krisens konsekvenser for ældre borgeres livskvalitet, herunder for deres trivsel, økonomi, beskæftigelse og sociale inklusion. Den undersøger virkningerne på brugen af plejetjenester og ældres afhængighed af anden støtte. Rapporten præsenterer politiktiltag, der er blevet gennemført i EU's medlemsstater til støtte for ældre i alle ovennævnte dimensioner. Disse omfatter foranstaltninger til støtte for en selvstændig tilværelse og ordninger for ældres integration på arbejdsmarkedet eller for forebyggelse af arbejdsløshed.

Efter en lang genopretningsperiode oven på den økonomiske krise (2007-2013) viste det sig, at de unge i EU var særligt sårbare over for virkningerne af de restriktioner, der blev indført for at bremse spredningen af covid-19-pandemien. Unge var mere udsat end ældre for at miste jobbet og for økonomisk usikkerhed og psykiske sundhedsproblemer. De meldte om nedsat tilfredshed med livet og forringet psykisk velbefindende i forbindelse med krav om at blive hjemme og lukningen af skoler.

Covid-19-pandemien lukkede eller begrænsede mange økonomiske aktiviteter i 2020 med vidtrækkende konsekvenser for arbejdsmarkedet til følge. Tabet af arbejdspladser i starten af pandemien var større end tabet under den globale finanskrise. Faldet i antallet af arbejdstimer var endnu større som følge af den omfattende statsstøtte til midlertidig hjemsendelse af arbejdstagere. De officielle politikker for fysisk afstand medførte en anden væsentlig og primært ad hoc-tilpasning, nemlig en situation hvor mange arbejdstagere fik mulighed for at arbejde hjemmefra.