European Working Conditions Surveys

The sixth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) builds on the lessons learned from the previous five surveys to paint a wide-ranging picture of Europe at work across countries, occupations, sectors and age groups. EU employment policy priorities aim to boost employment levels, prolong working life, increase the participation of women, develop productivity and innovation and adapt to the digital challenge.

This report examines the upward and downward trends in job quality across the EU from 1995 to 2010. The improvement and harmonisation of working conditions are core objectives of the European Union, but many factors affect job quality.

The first Zanzibar Working Conditions Survey, 2010, found that the incidence of physical risks, namely exposure to vibrations, noise and high temperatures, is high. The survey was based on the Global Module for Working Conditions Survey, developed jointly by the ILO and Eurofound to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of changes in quality of working life in developing countries. The Zanzibar study is presented as a follow-up and completion of the study on Working conditions in Tanzania in 2009, Zanzibar being a semi-autonomous part United Republic of Tanzania.

Work plays a pivotal role in people’s lives, in the functioning of companies and in society at large. Improving the quality of work and working conditions has long been at the forefront of EU policy, most recently in the Europe 2020 Strategy towards ‘Smart, inclusive and cohesive growth’. The fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) explores topics as diverse as physical risks, working time, gender segregation, work–life balance, employee representation, work organisation, stress at work, skills development and pay, as well as health and well-being.

Les responsables politiques de l'Union européenne reconnaissent que l'amélioration des conditions de travail est cruciale pour réaliser une meilleure qualité de la vie professionnelle, accroître la productivité et augmenter l'emploi – les objectifs de Lisbonne. Dans ce contexte, l'enquête européenne sur les conditions de travail, réalisée tous les cinq ans par la Fondation, fournit des informations précieuses sur l'évolution des aspects clés du travail depuis 1990. Ce rapport analyse les résultats de la quatrième enquête européenne sur les conditions de travail, réalisée au cours de l'automne 2005 dans 31 pays, dont les 27 États membres de l'Union européenne. Basé sur les réponses de travailleurs, il donne un aperçu large et varié des dimensions physiques, intellectuelles et psychologiques du travail et de son impact sur l'épanouissement personnel et sur l'équilibre vie-travail.

The key objective of this report is to update the inventory of data collection systems on working conditions at national and international level established by INSHT. The main aims are to: establish a repository of working conditions survey-related information as a basis for comparative analysis of survey methodologies, questionnaire design and findings; provide a resource for researchers, policymakers and social partners with a professional interest in working conditions; complement the Foundation’s own European survey data with similar data at national level; build closer links and working relationships with relevant bodies at Member State level; and establish an international network of experts on survey methodology and development.

Les enquêtes européennes sur les conditions de travail (EECT) de la Fondation européenne pour l’amélioration des conditions de vie et de travail sont menées tous les cinq ans depuis 1991. Ces enquêtes fournissent une perspective unique de l’évolution des conditions de travail et de l’emploi dans l’Union européenne (UE) au cours des quinze dernières années. Fin 2005, la Fondation a effectué la quatrième enquête de la série. À cette occasion, près de 30 000 travailleurs ont été interrogés dans 31 pays européens, et ont répondu à plus de cent questions concernant divers aspects de leurs conditions de travail et de leur emploi.

The Foundation carried out its Third European Working Conditions Survey in the 15 Member States of the European Union (EU) in 2000. In 2001, the survey was extended to cover the 12 acceding and candidate countries and the following year the survey included Turkey. Working conditions in the acceding and candidate countries provides the first important benchmark of the situation in all 13 countries. Gauging the status on issues ranging from stress in the workplace to types of employment or working hours, the report attempts to portray a realistic picture of the working environment of these countries as they take this critical step towards an enlarged Europe. An information sheet (EF0375) and a summary (EF0396) on this topic are also available.

This report presents the main findings of the Third European survey on working conditions. The survey was carried out simultaneously in each of the 15 Member States of the European Union in March 2000. These surveys aim to provide an overview of the state of working conditions in the European Union, as well as indicating the nature and content of changes affecting the workforce and the quality of work. The Spanish version is available on request.