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.

EU policymakers recognise that improving working conditions is crucial to achieving a better quality of work, greater productivity and increased employment – the Lisbon objectives. In this context, the Foundation’s European Working Conditions Surveys, conducted every five years, have been providing a valuable insight into key aspects of work since 1990. This report analyses the findings of the fourth survey, carried out in autumn 2005 across 31 countries, including the 27 EU Member States. Based on workers’ responses, it paints a broad and varied picture of the physical, intellectual and psychological dimensions of work and its impact on personal fulfilment and work-life balance.

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.

The Foundation’s European Working Conditions Surveys (EWCS) have been carried out every five years since 1991. They thus provide a unique insight into the evolution of the conditions of work and employment in the European Union throughout the last 15 years. In late 2005, the Foundation carried out its fourth survey. Almost 30,000 workers were interviewed in 31 European countries, volunteering information on more than 100 questions relating to different aspects of their conditions of work and employment.

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.

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.