ERM Quarterly - Issue 2, July 2012

With GDP growth stagnating, the unemployment rate continuing its upward trend, and unresolved sovereign debt issues in many Member States, it is not easy to be optimistic about the prospects for EU labour markets. The best news tends to be of the ‘it could be worse’ variety. The second issue for 2012 includes: macroeconomic trends and prospects; job creation and job losses at a glance (1/4/-30/6/2012); sectoral distribution of job losses/job gains, and top five cases; 'Solidarity contract' saves 1,000 jobs at Safilo in Italy; Working time flexibility; Airline mergers and retrenchment; Shifts in employment structure in Europe and the USA.