Online event

Virtual Visit to Estonia - Job quality a cornerstone for long-term labour market competitiveness

As part of our Virtual Visits initiative, Eurofound organised an exclusive online interactive webinar with its experts on Job quality - a cornerstone for long-term labour market competitiveness’ on Thursday, 15 January 2026, 13.00-14.00 (Estonian time).

Virtual Visit to Estonia - Job quality a cornerstone for long-term labour market competitiveness
When?

Thursday, 15 January 2026

Estonian time

Start

13:00

End

14:00

Organised by
Eurofound in collaboration with Eurofound’s Estonian Board Members and national correspondent in Estonia

Event background

This event took place in the context of Eurofound’s ongoing efforts with key stakeholders at the national level to ensure widespread dissemination and dialogue on our research findings. 

Event overview

Job quality is a cornerstone of Estonia’s economic competitiveness and long-term labour market strategy. Quality jobs offering fair wages, good working conditions, learning opportunities and work–life balance are essential for boosting participation, supporting longer and healthier careers, and raising productivity.

Estonia’s productivity growth has slowed compared to the European Union average. To address this, the government aims to raise labour productivity to 110% of the EU average by 2035. Improving job quality is key to achieving this goal.

In today’s rapidly changing economy, shaped by automation and artificial intelligence, robust job quality helps workers adapt, develop new skills and maintain well-being. Reliable evidence on job quality is critical for shaping effective labour policies.

This event incorporated new, interesting and country-specific data demonstrating how job quality is crucial for higher labour force participation, higher well-being and increased economic performance. Job quality is also a key component in making work sustainable and enabling workers to stay motivated to remain in work for longer.

Particular attention was paid to measures to improve job quality across age cohorts (young and older workers), address the unequal division of care between men and women, and assess the impact of artificial intelligence on work and employment. It also explored how to enhance the attractiveness of sectors and occupations facing labour shortages, including those deemed essential to Estonia’s competitiveness, such as health and social services, ICT, education and manufacturing.

This event took place in collaboration with Eurofound’s Estonian Board Members and with its national correspondent in Estonia.

The presentation is available for download below.

Presentation slides: Virtual Visit to Estonia - Job quality a cornerstone for long-term labour market competitiveness

PDF document

Virtual visit Estonia image
Virtual visit Estonia image
Virtual visit Estonia image

Image © Per Swantesson/Stocksy/Adobe Stock

Eurofound speakers

Barbara Gerstenberger

​Head of Unit
Working life research unit

Barbara Gerstenberger es Jefa de la Unidad de Vida Laboral de Eurofound. En este cargo, coordina los equipos de investigación que investigan la calidad del empleo en Europa sobre la base de la Encuesta Europea sobre las Condiciones de Trabajo y es responsable general del Observatorio Europeo de la Vida Laboral y de la investigación sobre las relaciones laborales en la UE. Se incorporó a Eurofound en 2001 como directora de investigación en el entonces recién creado Observatorio Europeo del Cambio (EMCC). En 2007, se trasladó a la unidad de Información y Comunicación de Eurofound como Jefa de Productos de Comunicación, antes de ser nombrada Coordinadora en la Dirección en 2011. Anteriormente, trabajó como investigadora sénior en la Federación Europea de Trabajadores Metalúrgicos en Bruselas. Licenciada en Ciencias Políticas por la Universidad de Hamburgo, realizó un máster en Administración Pública en la Kennedy School of Government de la Universidad de Harvard.

Sara Riso

Senior research manager
Working life research unit

Sara Riso joined Eurofound in 2006 and is currently a senior research manager in the Working Life unit. She is engaged in research projects focusing on digitalisation and working conditions. Before joining Eurofound, Sara managed research projects for large Brussels-based European associations and networks. Her academic background is in psychology, communication and languages. Her main research interest lies in exploring new workplace stressors arising from increased digitalisation of work, evolving organisational practices, and change management strategies to address the challenges posed by digitalisation in modern working environments.

Ivailo Kalfin

Executive Director
Eurofound

Ivailo Kalfin se incorporó a Eurofound como director ejecutivo el 1 de junio de 2021. La experiencia del Sr. Kalfin abarca una serie de áreas, desde la dinámica del mercado laboral y la política social hasta las tendencias políticas mundiales, la UE y el presupuesto, así como la transformación digital. Ha esbozado cinco prioridades principales para su papel en Eurofound: apoyar la integración de las transiciones ecológica y digital de Europa; complementar la aplicación del Plan de Acción del Pilar Europeo de Derechos Sociales con investigaciones basadas en pruebas; una mayor cooperación con organizaciones internacionales y socios externos y un mayor alcance a los países de la Política Europea de Vecindad; el apoyo a la mejora y ampliación de la capacidad de los interlocutores sociales en el ámbito de competencias de la Agencia; elevar el perfil de Eurofound entre las principales partes interesadas.

Mary McCaughey

Head of Unit
Information and Communication

Mary McCaughey es Directora de Información y Comunicación de Eurofound. Graduada del Trinity College de Dublín y del College of Europe, Brujas, comenzó a trabajar en Bruselas con Europolitics y el Wall Street Journal Europe. Trabajó con la Asociación de Parlamentarios Europeos con África (AWEPA) en Sudáfrica durante la transición del país a la democracia, y en 1998 asumió el cargo de portavoz de la Delegación de la Unión Europea en Pretoria, dirigiendo su departamento de prensa e información durante la negociación del acuerdo de libre comercio entre la UE y Sudáfrica. Tras el final de la guerra de Kosovo, trabajó como consultora de comunicaciones para la Agencia Europea para la Reconstrucción de Serbia. Asumió el cargo de redactora jefe de Eurofound en 2003.

Series: Virtual Visits

Hosted online and tailored to individual countries, Virtual Visits offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with Eurofound researchers. The sessions provide insights into current developments, explore the latest findings and facilitate discussion on topics of national relevance.

See all events in this series
Evento en línea
External event

Virtual Visit to Slovakia - The importance of job quality as a key driver in tackling labour shortages

FechaMonday, 6 October 2025
Hora10:30h‒11:30h (Hora local irlandesa)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Evento en línea
Joint event

Virtual Visit to Finland - Technologies at work: How prevalent are they and what role do they play?

FechaMonday, 26 May 2025
Hora14:00h‒15:30h (Hora local irlandesa)
Hora14:00 (Europe/Helsinki)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Evento en línea
Joint event

Virtual Visit to Portugal - Measures to tackle labour shortages and the importance of job quality

FechaWednesday, 18 December 2024
Hora12:30h‒13:30h (Hora local irlandesa)
Hora12:30 (Europe/Lisbon)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Evento en línea
Joint event

Virtual Visit to Belgium - Job quality: a key driver for increasing labour force participation

FechaTuesday, 26 November 2024
Hora11:30h‒12:30h (Hora local irlandesa)
Hora11:30 (Europe/Brussels)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Evento en línea
Joint event

Virtual Visit to Germany - Measures to tackle labour shortages and the significance of job quality

FechaMonday, 18 November 2024
Hora11:30h‒12:30h (Hora local irlandesa)
Hora11:30 (Europe/Berlin)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Evento en línea
Joint event

Virtual Visit to Austria - Measures to tackle labour shortages and the importance of job quality

FechaMonday, 16 September 2024
Hora11:00h‒12:00h (Hora local irlandesa)
Hora11:00 (Europe/Vienna)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Evento en línea
Joint event

Virtual Visit to Cyprus - Labour shortages: Tailoring interventions for different drivers of shortages

FechaWednesday, 31 July 2024
Hora09:30h‒10:30h (Hora local irlandesa)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Evento en línea
Joint event

Virtual Visit to Croatia - Social policies to bolster adequate and affordable housing

FechaTuesday, 30 April 2024
Hora10:30h‒11:30h (Hora local irlandesa)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Evento en línea
Joint event

Virtual Visit to Romania - Towards adequate minimum wages and strengthening of collective bargaining

FechaFriday, 26 April 2024
Hora10:30h‒11:30h (Hora local irlandesa)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Evento en línea
Joint event

Virtual Visit to Luxembourg - Labour shortages: National policy and company approaches to addressing shortages

FechaThursday, 25 April 2024
Hora11:30h‒12:30h (Hora local irlandesa)
LugarOnline
Este evento ha pasado
Flag of the European UnionThis website is an official website of the European Union.
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies