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).
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Thursday, 15 January 2026
Start
13:00
End
14:00
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.
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The presentation is available for download below.
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Image © Per Swantesson/Stocksy/Adobe Stock
Agenda
Contact
For any queries about the #Virtual Visits, please contact Bernice Turner:
Bernice Turner
Communication OfficerNo additional information available.
Eurofound speakers
Barbara Gerstenberger
Head of UnitTá Barbara Gerstenberger ina Ceannasaí ar an Aonad Saoil Oibre ag Eurofound. Sa ról seo, comhordaíonn sí na foirne taighde a dhéanann imscrúdú ar cháilíocht na bpost san Eoraip bunaithe ar an Suirbhé Eorpach ar Choinníollacha Oibre agus tá freagracht fhoriomlán uirthi as an bhFaireachlann Eorpach um Shaol na hOibre agus as taighde ar chaidreamh tionsclaíoch san AE. Chuaigh sí isteach in Eurofound in 2001 mar bhainisteoir taighde san Lárionad Faireacháin Eorpach um Athrú (EMCC) nuabhunaithe ag an am. In 2007, bhog sí go dtí an tAonad Faisnéise agus Cumarsáide Eurofound mar Cheannasaí Táirgí Cumarsáide, sular ceapadh í ina Comhordaitheoir sa Stiúrthóireacht in 2011. Roimhe sin, d'oibrigh sí mar oifigeach taighde sinsearach i gCónaidhm Eorpach na nOibrithe Miotail sa Bhruiséil. Céimí san eolaíocht pholaitiúil ó Ollscoil Hamburg, chríochnaigh sí céim Mháistir i Riarachán Poiblí ag Scoil Rialtais Kennedy, Ollscoil Harvard.
Sara Riso
Senior research managerSara 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 DirectorChuaigh Ivailo Kalfin isteach in Eurofound mar Stiúrthóir Feidhmiúcháin an 1 Meitheamh 2021. Clúdaíonn saineolas an Uasail Kalfin réimse réimsí, ó dhinimic an mhargaidh saothair agus an bheartais shóisialta go treochtaí polaitiúla domhanda, an tAontas Eorpach agus an buiséad, chomh maith le claochlú digiteach. Tá cúig phríomhthosaíocht leagtha amach aige dá ról ag Eurofound: tacú le príomhshruthú aistriú glas agus digiteach na hEorpa; cur chun feidhme Phlean Gníomhaíochta an Cholún Eorpaigh um Chearta Sóisialta a chomhlánú le taighde fianaisebhunaithe; comhar méadaithe le heagraíochtaí idirnáisiúnta agus le comhpháirtithe seachtracha agus for-rochtain níos fearr ar thíortha Bheartas Comharsanachta na hEorpa; tacaíocht chun acmhainn na gcomhpháirtithe sóisialta a fheabhsú agus a leathnú laistigh de shainchúram na Gníomhaireachta; próifíl Eurofound a ardú i measc na bpríomhpháirtithe leasmhara.
Mary McCaughey
Head of UnitTá Mary McCaughey ina Ceannasaí Faisnéise agus Cumarsáide in Eurofound. Céimí de chuid Choláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath agus Coláiste na hEorpa, Bruges, thosaigh sí ag obair sa Bhruiséil le Europolitics agus leis an Wall Street Journal Europe. D'oibrigh sí le Cumann na bParlaiminteoirí Eorpacha leis an Afraic (AWEPA) san Afraic Theas le linn aistriú na tíre chuig an daonlathas, agus i 1998 ghlac sí le post urlabhraí le Toscaireacht an Aontais Eorpaigh i Pretoria, agus í i gceannas ar a rannóg preasa agus faisnéise le linn chaibidlíocht an chomhaontaithe saorthrádála idir an tAontas Eorpach agus an Afraic Theas. Tar éis dheireadh Chogadh na Cosaive, d'oibrigh sí mar chomhairleoir cumarsáide don Ghníomhaireacht Eorpach um Atógáil sa tSeirbia. Chuaigh sí i mbun oibre mar Phríomh-Eagarthóir in Eurofound in 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.