State of play of convergence 2026 - Job quality in the EU

As job quality is increasingly prioritised at EU level, this policy brief supports ongoing policy development processes by revealing whether job quality across Member States is improving, and the degree to which workplace standards are converging or diverging. It analyses key indicators on fairness, health and safety, work-life balance, skills for the digital transition, and the role of social dialogue and collective bargaining. It also examines disparities in access to social protection and persistent gender gaps in the workforce. By providing comparative evidence across Member States, this research contributes to current policy debates and informs the development of the EU Quality Jobs Act.