Trust

Aspects of trust are covered across a range of Eurofound research, in its surveys and other research linked with improving living and working conditions in the EU. 

Trust and quality of life

Eurofound’s European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) examines levels of trust among citizens in public institutions such as national governments, the legal system, the EU, the news media and the police. The latest survey, EQLS 2016, found that there is a general improvement in quality of society indicators, including an increased trust in national institutions. In particular, young people (18–24 years) registered the highest increase in trust in other people, possibly indicative of a new cohort less scarred by the economic crisis after 2008. 

• Survey: European Quality of Life Survey 2016

Societal change, social cohesion and trust

Using the EQLS data, Eurofound has looked at societal change and trust in institutions. A number of questions were considered in determining the quality of society. How do we build trust in our institutions? What drives trust? What is the relevance of insecurity? 

Research based on the EQLS also examined European societies in terms of social cohesion, particularly social tensions, social exclusion, interpersonal trust and community engagement. It analysed the links between societal characteristics (quality of society) and well-being of different social groups, looking at how levels of societal tensions have changed in European societies over time (2003–2016). 

• Publication: Societal change and trust in institutions
• Publication: Social cohesion and well-being in Europe
• Topic: Living and working in Europe

COVID-19 and the impact on trust

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most severe economic and social shock in living memory. It is having wide-ranging effects on people’s quality of life and work, including their perceptions of the society around them. Eurofound's unique e-survey, Living, working and Covid-19, aims to capture the most immediate changes and their impact, with the aim of helping to shape the response to this crisis. Five rounds of the survey have been carried out to date, allowing for comparison during the different stages of living through the pandemic. Adapting EQLS questions, part of the survey focuses on people’s levels of trust in institutions, including the healthcare system, and optimism about the future. 

The latest results show:

• Trust in all institutions and across all Member States continued to fall during the pandemic, with even those respondents who previously expressed higher trust levels, such as people in financially secure positions, becoming less trusting. Non-vaccinated respondents also report much lower trust in institutions than those who are vaccinated, and the gap has widened since 2021 with a trust score of 2.3 out of 10 for the non-vaccinated respondents compared to 5 for the vaccinated. 
• Social media emerges as a key driver of declining trust, with an average trust score of 3 out of 10 for respondents who use social media as their preferred news source, which is much lower than 4.2 for those preferring traditional media. It will be critical for policymakers to combat the spread of misinformation to avoid undermining the stability of the Union in the coming period. 
• To prevent those hardest hit by the impact of the crisis from falling further behind, policymakers will need to take a holistic approach to the provision of support. Failure to prevent the continued rise of inequalities among citizens and between Member States risks further undermining trust of Europeans in their institutions, as well as triggering political discontent.     
• To restore trust in governments and the EU, it will be essential to understand and address people’s needs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. The future of Europe debate has an important role to play in reaching out and listening to citizens’ concerns, particularly as the EU recovers from the pandemic and moves to a greener, more digital EU economy.    
• Maintaining citizens’ trust in national and European institutions must remain a key focus in times of crisis as compliance with measures to control COVID-19 greatly depends on levels of trust in institutions and scientific advice. The increase in levels of institutional trust reported by respondents who benefited from support measures also sends a clear message to national governments and the EU.

First results from the fifth round of the e-survey were published on 7 July 2022. Eurofound will publish a joint factsheet with the European Training Foundation presenting the final results in autumn 2022.

• Publication: Fifth round of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey: Living in a new era of uncertainty
• Sign up to our forthcoming publication: Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey report

An overview report for the first two rounds is available, as well as a factsheet for the third round, along with a range of accompanying data pages, with the option to explore the data for each round by country, age and gender. 

• Publication: Living, working and COVID-19 (Update April 2021): Mental health and trust decline across EU as pandemic enters another year (covers round 3)
• Publication: Living, working and COVID-19 (covers rounds 1 and 2)
• Data: Living, working and COVID-19 data
• Topic: COVID-19

Innovation, working conditions and trust

Eurofound’s European Company Survey (ECS) examines trust between management and employees in European companies. The research shows a trusting relationship between employee representation and management, in combination with direct employee participation, is associated with higher levels of performance and well-being and creates a positive environment for innovative action. Trust is also an important element of well-functioning workplace social dialogue to deliver win–win outcomes. 

• Survey: European Company Surveys
• Publication: European Company Survey 2019 – Workplace practices unlocking employee potential
• Publication: Innovative changes in European companies

Looking at this from the working conditions perspective, the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) shows a positive association between different job quality indices and trust. It confirms that mutual trust between management and employees, as well as recognition and good cooperation, are important aspects of organisational management, resulting in positive outcomes both for the organisation and its workers.

• Survey: European Working Conditions Surveys 
• Publication: How does employee involvement in decision-making benefit organisations?