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 UnitBarbara Gerstenberger hija l-Kap tal-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound. F'dan ir-rwol, hija tikkoordina t-timijiet ta' riċerka li jinvestigaw il-kwalità tal-impjiegi fl-Ewropa abbażi tal-Istħarriġ Ewropew dwar il-Kundizzjonijiet tax-Xogħol u għandha r-responsabbiltà ġenerali għall-Osservatorju Ewropew tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol u r-riċerka dwar ir-relazzjonijiet industrijali fl-UE. Hija ngħaqdet mal-Eurofound fl-2001 bħala maniġer tar-riċerka fiċ-Ċentru Ewropew għall-Monitoraġġ tal-Bidla (EMCC) li dak iż-żmien kien għadu kif ġie stabbilit. Fl-2007, hija marret fl-unità tal-Informazzjoni u l-Komunikazzjoni tal-Eurofound bħala Kap tal-Prodotti tal-Komunikazzjoni, qabel ma nħatret Koordinatur fid-Direttorat fl-2011. Preċedentement, hija ħadmet bħala uffiċjal anzjan tar-riċerka fil-Federazzjoni Ewropea tal-Ħaddiema tal-Metall fi Brussell. A graduate in political science from Hamburg University, she completed a Master's degree in Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
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 DirectorIvailo Kalfin ingħaqad mal-Eurofound bħala Direttur Eżekuttiv fl-1 ta' Ġunju 2021. L-għarfien espert tas-Sur Kalfin ikopri firxa ta' oqsma, mid-dinamika tas-suq tax-xogħol u l-politika soċjali għal xejriet politiċi globali, l-UE u l-baġit, kif ukoll it-trasformazzjoni diġitali. Huwa ddeskriva ħames prijoritajiet ewlenin għar-rwol tiegħu fil-Eurofound: l-appoġġ għall-integrazzjoni tat-tranżizzjonijiet ekoloġiċi u diġitali tal-Ewropa; jikkumplimenta l-implimentazzjoni tal-Pjan ta' Azzjoni tal-Pilastru Ewropew tad-Drittijiet Soċjali b'riċerka bbażata fuq l-evidenza; aktar kooperazzjoni ma' organizzazzjonijiet internazzjonali u msieħba esterni u sensibilizzazzjoni akbar mal-pajjiżi tal-Politika Ewropea tal-Viċinat; appoġġ għat-tisħiħ u l-espansjoni tal-kapaċità tal-imsieħba soċjali fi ħdan il-mandat tal-Aġenzija; iż-żieda fil-profil tal-Eurofound fost il-partijiet interessati ewlenin.
Mary McCaughey
Head of UnitMary McCaughey hija l-Kap tal-Informazzjoni u l-Komunikazzjoni fil-Eurofound. Gradwata mit-Trinity College, Dublin u l-Kulleġġ tal-Ewropa, Bruges, bdiet taħdem fi Brussell mal-Europolitics u l-Wall Street Journal Europe. Hija ħadmet mal-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Parlamentari Ewropej mal-Afrika (AWEPA) fl-Afrika t'Isfel matul it-tranżizzjoni tal-pajjiż lejn id-demokrazija, u fl-1998 ħadet il-kariga ta' kelliem mad-Delegazzjoni tal-Unjoni Ewropea fi Pretoria, fejn tmexxi d-dipartiment tal-istampa u l-informazzjoni tagħha matul in-negozjati tal-ftehim ta' kummerċ ħieles bejn l-UE u l-Afrika t'Isfel. Wara t-tmiem tal-Gwerra tal-Kosovo, hija ħadmet bħala konsulent tal-komunikazzjoni għall-Aġenzija Ewropea għar-Rikostruzzjoni fis-Serbja. Hija bdiet il-kariga ta' Kap Editur fil-Eurofound fl-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.