Online event

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).

Virtual Visit to Estonia - Job quality a cornerstone for long-term labour market competitiveness
When?

Thursday, 15 January 2026

Estonian time

Start

13:00

End

14:00

Organised by
Eurofound in collaboration with Eurofound’s Estonian Board Members and national correspondent in Estonia

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.

The presentation is available for download below.

Presentation slides: Virtual Visit to Estonia - Job quality a cornerstone for long-term labour market competitiveness

PDF document

Virtual visit Estonia image
Virtual visit Estonia image
Virtual visit Estonia image

Image © Per Swantesson/Stocksy/Adobe Stock

Eurofound speakers

Barbara Gerstenberger

​Head of Unit
Working life research unit

Barbara Gerstenberger é Chefe da Unidade de Vida Profissional da Eurofound. Nessa função, coordena as equipas de investigação que investigam a qualidade do emprego na Europa com base no Inquérito Europeu sobre as Condições de Trabalho e é responsável global pelo Observatório Europeu da Vida Profissional e pela investigação sobre as relações laborais na UE. Ingressou na Eurofound em 2001 como gestora de investigação no então recém-criado Observatório Europeu da Mudança (EMCC). Em 2007, mudou-se para a unidade de Informação e Comunicação da Eurofound como Chefe de Produtos de Comunicação, antes de ser nomeada Coordenadora na Direção em 2011. Anteriormente, ela trabalhou como pesquisadora sênior na Federação Europeia de Metalúrgicos em Bruxelas. Formada em ciências políticas pela Universidade de Hamburgo, ela concluiu um mestrado em Administração Pública na Kennedy School of Government, Universidade de Harvard.

Sara Riso

Senior research manager
Working life research unit

Sara 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 Director
Eurofound

Ivailo Kalfin ingressou na Eurofound como Diretor Executivo em 1 de junho de 2021. A experiência do Sr. Kalfin abrange uma variedade de áreas, desde a dinâmica do mercado de trabalho e da política social até as tendências políticas globais, a UE e o orçamento, bem como a transformação digital. Definiu cinco prioridades principais para o seu papel na Eurofound: apoiar a integração das transições ecológica e digital da Europa; complementar a aplicação do Plano de Ação sobre o Pilar Europeu dos Direitos Sociais com investigação baseada em dados concretos; maior cooperação com organizações internacionais e parceiros externos e maior sensibilização para os países da Política Europeia de Vizinhança; apoio ao reforço e ao alargamento da capacidade dos parceiros sociais no âmbito das competências da Agência; aumentar a visibilidade da Eurofound entre as principais partes interessadas.

Mary McCaughey

Head of Unit
Information and Communication

Mary McCaughey é Chefe de Informação e Comunicação da Eurofound. Formada pelo Trinity College, Dublin e pelo College of Europe, Bruges, ela começou a trabalhar em Bruxelas com a Europolitics e o Wall Street Journal Europe. Trabalhou com a Associação de Parlamentares Europeus com África (AWEPA) na África do Sul durante a transição do país para a democracia e, em 1998, assumiu o cargo de porta-voz da Delegação da União Europeia em Pretória, chefiando o seu departamento de imprensa e informação durante a negociação do acordo de comércio livre UE-África do Sul. Após o fim da Guerra do Kosovo, ela trabalhou como consultora de comunicação para a Agência Europeia de Reconstrução na Sérvia. Ela assumiu o cargo de editora-chefe da Eurofound em 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.

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The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies