Apprenticeships combining alternating periods at the workplace and in training institutions are well suited to providing young people with an entry point into the labour market and to supplying enterprises with skilled workers. This report examines apprenticeship systems and practices in the manufacturing sector in five EU Member States (Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland and Italy) and two countries outside Europe (Australia and the USA), exploring reform processes in response to new skill requirements arising from technological change.

Restructuring is a major feature of labour markets and work organisation. Data collected by Eurofound’s European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) clearly show this. While organisational restructuring is necessary for business survival and growth, it can take a heavy toll on employees – not least the ‘stayers’ or ‘survivors’ who manage to keep their jobs.

The annual review of developments in Working Life in Europe collates information based on reports from Eurofound’s network of European correspondents throughout 2017, complemented by recent research findings, including data from Eurofound’s European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS).

Manual jobs in European manufacturing are being transformed as blue-collar workers take on more intellectual tasks. This is a consequence of the increasing use of digital tools and the growing importance of quality control in production. The severe losses of middle-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector during the economic crisis raised concerns about its future role and contribution to economic progress.