Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions and sustainable work is one of Eurofound's main operational activities for its 2025–2028 programme. Building on the past 50 years of research, Eurofound continues to operate as a centre of expertise for monitoring and analysing developments in working conditions and job quality across the EU Member States, most recently via the European Working Conditions Survey 2024.
Working conditions and sustainable work is one of Eurofound's main operational activities for its 2025–2028 programme. Building on the past 50 years of research, Eurofound continues to operate as a centre of expertise for monitoring and analysing developments in this area arising from the opportunities and challenges from four mega-drivers: demographic change, climate change, technological change and re-globalisation.
Research focus
Drawing on its latest data collected via the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) 2024, Eurofound provides comparative data and unique insights into trends in the development of working conditions and job quality across the EU Member States, aiming to promote sustainability of work over the life course in a labour market characterised by transformative changes.
In 2026 and beyond, analysing the EWCS 2024 data is the main focus in the area of working conditions and sustainable work, aiming to investigate differences in working conditions between different groups of workers and the impact of technological change, in particular of AI, on working conditions and job quality. This work is complemented by evidence on measures designed to address these challenges and improve working conditions. Such measures stem from public policies and legislation, the intervention of the social partners and practices at workplace level.
Related topics
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Events
Watch the webinar - AskTheExpert: Beyond the data - Uncovering persistent inequalities in European working conditions
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Brussels Briefing - Better jobs, longer careers: The role of job quality in retaining older workers
Brussels Briefing: Work and well-being - The gender gap in job quality
Virtual Visit to Belgium - Job quality: a key driver for increasing labour force participation
Mental health and work - EU Presidency of Belgium
All content
This list provides access to all Eurofound outputs published on this subject.
Eurofound expert
Barbara Gerstenberger
Head of UnitBarbara Gerstenberger is Head of the Working Life unit at Eurofound. In this role, she coordinates the research teams investigating job quality in Europe based on the European Working Conditions Survey and industrial relations in the EU. She joined Eurofound in 2001 as a research manager in the then newly established European Monitoring Centre on Change (EMCC). In 2007, she moved to Eurofound’s Information and Communication unit as Head of Communication Products, before being appointed Coordinator in the Directorate in 2011. Previously, she worked as senior research officer in the European Metalworkers’ Federation in Brussels. A graduate in political science from Hamburg University, she completed a Master's degree in Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
