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Research report
1 September 2026

Minimum wages in 2026: Annual review

This year’s annual review presents the discussions around minimum wage setting in EU Member States and Norway during 2025, leading to the new rates for 2026. It analyses the progress on national minimum wages over the past decade, discusses the recent Court of Justice ruling and national transposition initiatives regarding the EU Minimum Wage Directive, and explores collective bargaining on wages in low-paid sectors.

Related content

Article

16 July 2026

National minimum wages in the EU: policy-driven growth, continued convergence and increased proximity to negotiated wages
Article

30 January 2026

Real growth in minimum wages in 2026, amid both progress and pullback on Member States’ ambitions
Topic

29 January 2026

Minimum wage
Data visualisation

29 January 2026

National minimum wages, 2026 (chart)

Publications

Explore Eurofound's recent publications.

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The European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) 2024 provides a comprehensive picture of the everyday reality of women and men in today's world of work. Building on the long-established questionnaire, new questions were asked in this edition to cover the key policy and research agenda around the future of work, including the impact of COVID-19, digitalisation and decarbonisation at work. The results from the 2024 survey identify emerging issues and trends in the Member States and beyond.

Join the EU-wide digitalisation survey for social economy organisations

Eurofound has launched a study on digitalisation in the social economy across the 27 EU Member States. The survey is addressed to social economy entities in the EU and runs until 30 September 2026. Your insight helps build the evidence base for better policy and support.

Podcast and Blog

Explore content from Eurofound's blog and podcast series.

Podcast episode
Episode 46
10 July 2026

Employment and working conditions of the most vulnerable workers

Mary McCaughey,
Karel Fric
Employment and working conditions of the most vulnerable workers

Over the past two decades, European labour markets have undergone significant transformation, with a marked rise in non-standard forms of employment such as part-time and temporary work. In this episode of Eurofound Talks, Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound expert Karel Fric to explore the employment and working conditions of the most vulnerable workers.

Recently published blog posts and podcast episodes

  • Blog post

    5 June 2026

    Overheated and underprepared: How can we shield Europe's most vulnerable?
  • Podcast episode

    29 May 2026

    Behind the scenes of the European Working Conditions Survey
  • Podcast episode

    22 April 2026

    Are Europeans prepared for climate change?
  • Blog post

    14 April 2026

    Four decades of data reveal a European workforce transformed beyond recognition
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Eurofound logo

Eurofound is the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

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

Topics

Eurofound's work focuses on topics in the areas of working conditions and sustainable work, industrial relations and social dialogue, employment and labour markets, as well as living conditions and quality of life.

Topic
29 January 2026

Minimum wage

Minimum wage

The term ‘minimum wage’ refers to the regulatory restriction on the lowest rate payable by employers to workers. Statutory minimum wages are regulated by formal laws or statutes. Collectively agreed minimum wages are stipulated within collective agreements between trade unions and employers. The term ‘national minimum wages’ is used when countries have one (or more) basic rates covering workers nationwide. They can be either statutory or collectively agreed.

Data and monitoring tools

Eurofound provides various monitoring tools, dashboards, databases and individual data visualisations.

Highlight

New dashboard

European housing dashboard

Recently added data items

  • Map

    9 September 2026

    Trends in BI capacity and application across the EU-27 and Norway
  • Map

    9 September 2026

    Maturity of GBPP across the EU-27 and Norway
  • Map

    9 September 2026

    BI research capacity across the EU-27 and Norway
  • Map

    9 September 2026

    Application of BI to green, environmental and climate policies across the EU-27 and Norway
  • European Working Conditions Surveys (EWCS)

    Since its launch in 1990, the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) has provided an overview of working conditions in Europe.
    Rounds available
  • European Quality of Life Surveys (EQLS)

    Eurofound’s European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) documents living conditions and people’s social situation, and explores issues pertinent to the lives of European citizens.
    Rounds available
  • European Company Surveys (ECS)

    The European Company Survey (ECS) has been carried out regularly since its inception in 2004–2005 as the European Establishment Survey on Working Time and Work–Life Balance (ESWT).
  • Living and Working in the EU e-survey

    Since its launch in 2020, Eurofound's unique Living and Working in the EU e-survey has provided an overview of the ever-changing developments in living and working since the onset of the pandemic, through the recovery measures and during a time of constant change.
    Rounds available

Events

Learn more about Eurofound's upcoming and past events.

In-person event
External event

Meeting of the EU Employment Committee (EMCO)

24 – 25 September 2026Dublin, Ireland
Meeting of the EU Employment Committee (EMCO)

This is a 1.5-day informal meeting of the EU Employment Committee (EMCO). This meeting enables deeper policy exchange and strengthens collaboration, helping to shape and advance EU-wide policy and working priorities in the area of employment.

Other events

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European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies

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