Uneven picture of a changing Europe: Findings from Living and Working in the EU e-survey 2025

Findings from the 2025 (eighth) round of Eurofound’s Living and working in the EU e-survey suggest persistent economic strain and uneven levels of resilience across Member States. Despite lower inflation and labour markets that remain relatively stable by headline indicators, respondents continue to face significant financial pressure, with widening gaps between income groups, rising insecurity among renters and middle-aged people, and continued housing insecurity, especially among low-income and single-parent households. These economic vulnerabilities are reflected in respondents’ declining optimism about the future and levels of mental well-being that remain below those of the early pandemic. Among employees, work–life balance continues to be an issue, particularly for those whose preferences for remote working do not match their actual arrangements. In parallel, trust in institutions is fragile and highly unequal, with low-income groups reporting the lowest levels of trust and democratic satisfaction. Overall, the results of the 2025 Living and Working in the EU e-survey provide new evidence of how Europeans have been coping with these pressures and how these experiences differ across income groups, genders and age cohorts.