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Labour market policies

To improve the functioning of labour markets, policymakers need to address labour market mismatches, labour market segmentation, and design employment policies geared towards the integration of specific groups into the labour market. Active labour market policies (ALMP) are public interventions which are explicitly targeted at groups of persons with difficulties in the labour market. These policies include Public Employment Services or other publicly funded services for jobseekers. Active support to employment is included in the European Pillar of Social Rights.
 

Topic

Eurofound research

Explore Eurofound's regularly updated EU PolicyWatch database of measures introduced by governments and social partners in the EU Member States to alleviate the effects on businesses, workers and citizens of recent crises – COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and rising inflation. It also lists policies to support the digital and green transitions, as well companies that need to restructure. 

Database: EU PolicyWatch

Recent updates

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Becoming adults: Young people in a post-pandemic world

During the pandemic, many young people had to change their plans for the future. While at the end of 2023 young people’s labour market situation was more favourable than it...

21 Μάιος 2024
Publication
Research report
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Spanish presidency 2023: Eurofound's contribution

From July to December 2023, Eurofound supported the work of Spain's presidency of the Council of the EU, providing valuable research results on specific topics linked with the presidency priorities.

Web page

Eurofound expert(s)

John Hurley

John Hurley

John Hurley is a senior research manager in the Employment unit at Eurofound. He took up the role of research manager in February 2012. He is responsible for the European...

Senior research manager,
Employment research unit
Publications results (149)

Becoming adults: Young people in a post-pandemic world

During the pandemic, many young people had to change their plans for the future. While at the end of 2023 young people’s labour market situation was more favourable than it had been in recent years, many obstacles remained on their route to independence, such as the rising cost of living and

21 May 2024
Publication
Research report
Youth
Living conditions and quality of life
NEETs
Subjective well-being
Psychosocial risks
Labour market policies
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Gender differences in motivation to engage in platform work

The rise of the platform economy during the last decade is one of the main disrupting forces for European labour markets. While standard employment remains the norm, platforms are expanding their reach and diversifying into novel business models. In doing so, they are also attracting an increasing n

16 May 2023
Publication
Policy brief
New forms of employment
Platform work
Gender equality
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Digitalisation
Labour market policies
Labour market participation
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Changing labour markets: How to prevent a mismatch between skills and jobs in times of transition - Background paper

On request by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Eurofound prepared a background paper as a basis for the discussion at the informal Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) meeting on 3-4 May 2023. The paper outlines some of the key challenges

04 May 2023
Publication
Customised report
Skills and training
European Green Deal
Employment and labour markets
Digitalisation
Labour market policies
Just transition

Μέτρα για την αντιμετώπιση των ελλείψεων εργατικού δυναμικού: διδάγματα για τη χάραξη μελλοντικής πολιτικής

Καθώς οι οικονομίες αρχίζουν να ανακάμπτουν από την πανδημία COVID-19, οι ελλείψεις σε επίπεδο εργατικού δυναμικού γίνονται ολοένα και πιο εμφανείς παρά τις επιπτώσεις που έχει ο πόλεμος στην Ουκρανία στις τιμές της ενέργειας και βασικών προϊόντων. Σε αυτές περιλαμβάνονται ελλείψεις που οξύνθηκαν

28 March 2023
Publication
Research report
Skills and training
Unemployment
Employment structure
European Green Deal
Απασχόληση και αγορές εργασίας
COVID-19
Η ψηφιακή εποχή: ευκαιρίες και προκλήσεις για την εργασία και την απασχόληση
Labour market policies
Just transition
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Η σύγκλιση στην ΕΕ: η γεωγραφική διάσταση, ο αντίκτυπος της νόσου COVID-19 και ο ρόλος της πολιτικής

Ανέκαθεν, ο πολιτικός διάλογος σχετικά με τη σύγκλιση στην ΕΕ αποκτούσε ώθηση έπειτα από κάποια κρίση. Στον απόηχο της πανδημίας COVID-19, σκοπός της παρούσας έκθεσης είναι να καταγράψει τις τάσεις που παρατηρήθηκαν τις τελευταίες δύο δεκαετίες στον τομέα της σύγκλισης. Η μελέτη ξεκινά με μια

22 March 2023
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Προώθηση κοινωνικής συνοχής και σύγκλισης
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Inequality

EU-ANSA mapping report: Socioeconomic aspects of sustainable development

The European Union Agencies Network on Scientific Advice (EU-ANSA) consists of technical and regulatory agencies that provide scientific advice to EU policymakers. This report demonstrates how EU-ANSA member Agencies are addressing the socioeconomic effects of sustainable development. It is based on

05 January 2022
Publication
Other
Skills and training
Social dialogue
Social policies
Structural change
European Green Deal
Gender equality
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Labour market policies
Just transition
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Initiatives to improve conditions for platform workers: Aims, methods, strengths and weaknesses

The rapid rise of the platform economy has led to a marked transformation of European labour markets, and existing regulatory frameworks and voluntary initiatives have yet to catch up. While platform work offers opportunities for workers and employers and potentially contributes to innovation

02 December 2021
Publication
Policy brief
New forms of employment
Platform work
Employment relationship
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Digitalisation
Labour market policies
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Exploring the social challenges of low carbon energy policies in Europe

This briefing is co-produced by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and Eurofound. It is based on the results of two complementary analyses by the EEA and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) on the socioeconomic effects of climate policies, in

29 October 2021
Publication
Other
Social policies
Structural change
European Green Deal
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Just transition
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Τι συνέβη μόλις; Μέτρα απαγόρευσης κυκλοφορίας κατά της COVID-19 και αλλαγές στην αγορά εργασίας

Η πανδημία COVID-19 διέκοψε ή περιόρισε πολλές οικονομικές δραστηριότητες το 2020, με εκτεταμένες επιπτώσεις στην αγορά εργασίας. Οι απώλειες στον τομέα της απασχόλησης στην αρχή της πανδημίας ήταν πιο σοβαρές από τις απώλειες που σημειώθηκαν κατά τη διάρκεια της παγκόσμιας οικονομικής κρίσης. Ακόμη

19 October 2021
Publication
Research report
Χρόνος εργασίας
Τηλεργασία
Employment structure
Απασχόληση και αγορές εργασίας
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Just transition
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Αντιμετώπιση των ελλείψεων εργατικού δυναμικού στα κράτη μέλη της ΕΕ

While unemployment is still a huge challenge in Europe, some countries, sectors and occupations are experiencing labour shortages. This report explores various approaches to identifying labour shortages and maps national policy debates around the issue. It documents public and social partner

20 July 2021
Publication
Research report
Skills and training
Unemployment
Employment structure
European Green Deal
European Pillar of Social Rights
Απασχόληση και αγορές εργασίας
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Online resources results (199)

Important agreement signed on restructuring the state railways

In November 1999, the government, company management and trade unions signed a framework agreement on restructuring the Italian state railways (FS). The agreement covers all the main areas of the crisis currently afflicting FS – overstaffing, high labour costs, low profits and inefficient

27 Δεκέμβριος 1999
Article
Restructuring
Labour market policies

Labour shortages and ageing population prompt review of early retirement

In December 1999, employer and employee representatives in the Dutch Social and Economic Council advised the government to abolish the financial advantages for companies contained in existing early retirement provisions, and suggested a more flexible pre-pension system. The proposals follow various

27 Δεκέμβριος 1999
Article
Ageing workforce
Social protection
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Retirement

Attendance management: beyond the basics?

This feature looks at recent evidence on patterns of absence and at current management practice in attendance control. It does not review familiar facts (UK9705127F [1]). It is, for example, well-known that absence is relatively high among blue-collar workers, for fairly obvious reasons. Lists of

27 Νοέμβριος 1999
Article
Health and well-being at work
Labour market policies
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Labour market developments and proposals

The Austrian government took major initiatives during its Presidency of the EU in the second half of 1998, in order to make employment/unemployment issues a top priority at EU level. In line with the agreed EU Employment Guidelines [1], the Austrian government has pursued a National Action Plan (NAP

27 Οκτώβριος 1999
Article
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies

Splits open up between trade unions

During the summer of 1999, a distinct split has opened up between Cgil and Cisl, the two largest Italian trade unions, on flexibility, reform of the pensions system and economic democracy.

27 Σεπτέμβριος 1999
Article
Social partners
Labour market policies
Social protection
Participation at work
Employment and labour markets

Uncertainty hits oil sector

On 6 September 1999, approximately 12 000 employees in the offshore oil-production industry took strike action against the government's apparent lack of initiative vis-à-vis the present crisis in the Norwegian oil sector. There is growing uncertainty about the state of affairs in the sector, which

27 Σεπτέμβριος 1999
Article
Industrial action
Labour market policies

Social partners outline demands prior to general election

In July 1999, in preparation for the general election to be held in October, Portugal's social partner organisations drew up their assessments of the outgoing legislature and made their demands to the political parties for the next four-year period.

27 Αύγουστος 1999
Article
Social dialogue
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Training measures for young people continued

On 20 July 1999, the government decided to finance the training of up to 4,000 young people, if they cannot find training places with employers in 1999-2000. This is the same allocation as for 1998-9 (AT9803175N [1]), when 3,600 young people were placed - 2,100 in 10-month training courses and 1,500

27 Αύγουστος 1999
Article
Skills and training
Youth
Labour market policies
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Working conditions and sustainable work

Institute of Labour issues report on the economy and employment

In September 1999, the Institute of Labour of Greece's GSEE and the ADEDY trade union confederations issues its first /Annual economic and employment outlook/. Such reports have long been produced by employers, the central bank and the Ministry of National Economy. The report finds that Greece is

27 Αύγουστος 1999
Article
Labour market policies
Social inclusion
Employment and labour markets
Social policies

Ninth ETUC Congress calls for a European system of industrial relations

From 29 June to 2 July 1999, 500 delegates from 33 countries attended the ninth Statutory Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in Helsinki. Issues debated ranged from the importance of combining Economic and Monetary Union with employment and social progress, to the role of

27 Ιούλιος 1999
Article
Labour market policies
Gender equality
Employment and labour markets
Blogs results (10)
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EU lack of labour won't be solved by skills alone: Improving job quality is key

The European Commission declared 2023 as the European Year of Skills, stating ‘Helping people get the right skills for quality jobs and helping companies, in particular small and medium enterprises, address skills shortages in the EU is what this year is all about.’

27 Μάρτιος 2023
Tina Weber
Blog
Skills and training
Working conditions
Gender equality
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
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Recovering from this pandemic means rebuilding hope for the future

We need to study and understand the blow Europe’s youth have suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to adjust recovery and resilience measures to their needs: without prioritising young people in the present, we have little hope for the future.

3 Δεκέμβριος 2021
Ivailo Kalfin
Blog
Youth
Subjective well-being
COVID-19
Labour market policies
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The pandemic aggravated labour shortages in some sectors; the problem is now emerging in others

Following the declines in employment rates and working hours across Europe in 2020, economies began to show signs of recovery during the first quarter of 2021. The gradual rekindling of economic activity has led to a surge in demand for workers and reawakened concerns over labour shortages

20 Ιούλιος 2021
Dragoș Adăscăliței
Blog
Skills and training
Employment structure
European Pillar of Social Rights
Employment and labour markets
COVID-19
Labour market policies
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Minimum wages rise again, but the pandemic puts a brake on their growth

Decision-makers approached minimum wage setting for 2021 cautiously due to the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Despite this, nominal statutory minimum wages rose in most Member States and the UK, although at lower rates than in recent years.

8 Ιούνιος 2021
Carlos Vacas‑Soriano
Blog
Social dialogue
Pay and income
Working poor
Minimum wage
European Pillar of Social Rights
Labour market policies
Industrial relations and social dialogue
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Two worlds of income support during COVID-19

​​​​​​​To date, close to six million workers in the EU have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. Many businesses have closed their doors forever or been pushed to the brink, bringing severe financial and psychological hardship to the individuals and families affected. However, the toll of the pandemic

9 Φεβρουάριος 2021
Tina Weber
Blog
COVID-19
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Pay and income
Social protection
Unemployment
Working time
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Can short-time working save jobs during the COVID-19 crisis?

On 2 April, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new fund of up to €100 billion to support EU Member States to introduce short-time working or similar schemes, including for the self-employed, in an effort to safeguard jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Known as SURE

5 Μάιος 2020
Tina Weber
Blog
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Labour and social regulation
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Europe’s low-carbon transition makes economic sense

At the very outset of its mandate, the new European Commission presented the European Green Deal, establishing the objective of becoming the first climate-neutral bloc in the world by 2050. The initiative emphasises the seriousness which the European Commission places on the climate and biodiversity

21 Φεβρουάριος 2020
James Higgins
Blog
Employment and labour markets
European Green Deal
Industrial policy
Job creation
Just transition
Labour market policies
Structural change
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Where are all the good jobs?

Economic disparities have been decreasing between EU member states over the past decade, but at the same time inequality has been growing within member states. Despite national level convergence, the gap in wealth and income between the rich and the poor is growing in most of Europe. Some of this

29 Οκτώβριος 2019
John Hurley
Blog
Employment structure
Labour market policies
Job creation
Job quality
Employment and labour markets
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The challenge of plenty: Tackling labour shortages in the EU

Unemployment in the EU is continuing to fall, with the rate approaching its 2008 low point. This is good news: the Europe 2020 target of 75% employment in the working age population is now in sight for many Member States. However, as unemployment reaches new lows, the opposite problem is emerging –

19 Νοέμβριος 2018
Catherine Cerf
Blog
Labour market participation
Labour market policies
Migration and mobility
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working time
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Platform work – Breaking barriers or breaking bad?

In the abstract, platform work is the matching of supply and demand for paid work through an online platform. In practice, most people are likely to have encountered it through big online platforms such as Uber, Deliveroo or Amazon Mechanical Turk. This is a new form employment that began to emerge

2 Νοέμβριος 2018
Irene Mandl
Blog
Platform work
Working conditions
New forms of employment
Digitalisation
Labour market policies
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Working conditions and sustainable work
Upcoming publications results (2)

Company practices to tackle labour shortages

This report provides updated data on the scale of labour shortages and labour market slack in the EU and at Member State level and focusses on organisational policies aimed at attracting workers in shortage occupations. It provides lessons on steps employers can take to fill vacancies, whether actin

September 2024
Forthcoming
Publication
Research report
Employment and labour markets
Job creation
Labour market policies

COVID-19 support measures and their effects on mitigating the longer-term consequences of COVID-19 for business, work and employment

Job retention schemes were the main policy instruments used across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic to preserve employment and support businesses. The report provides an analysis of job retention schemes in the EU, focusing on their institutional characteristics, their impact on employment levels

September 2024
Forthcoming
Publication
Research report
COVID-19
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies

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