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 je vodja enote za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. V tej vlogi usklajuje raziskovalne skupine, ki preučujejo kakovost delovnih mest v Evropi na podlagi evropske raziskave o delovnih razmerah, in je na splošno odgovorna za Evropski observatorij za delovno življenje in raziskave odnosov med delodajalci in delojemalci v EU. Eurofoundu se je pridružila leta 2001 kot vodja raziskav v takrat novoustanovljenem Evropskem centru za spremljanje sprememb (EMCC). Leta 2007 se je preselila v Eurofoundovo informacijsko in komunikacijsko enoto kot vodja komunikacijskih produktov, nato pa je bila leta 2011 imenovana za koordinatorko v direktoratu. Pred tem je delala kot višja raziskovalka v Evropski federaciji kovinarjev v Bruslju. Diplomirala je iz politologije na Univerzi v Hamburgu, magistrirala je iz javne uprave na Kennedy School of Government na Univerzi 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 se je Eurofoundu pridružil kot izvršni direktor 1. junija 2021. Njegovo strokovno znanje zajema vrsto področij, od dinamike trga dela in socialne politike do svetovnih političnih trendov, EU in proračuna ter digitalne preobrazbe. Predstavil je pet glavnih prednostnih nalog za svojo vlogo v Eurofoundu: podpiranje vključevanja zelenega in digitalnega prehoda v Evropo; dopolnitev izvajanja akcijskega načrta za evropski steber socialnih pravic z raziskavami, ki temeljijo na dokazih; okrepljeno sodelovanje z mednarodnimi organizacijami in zunanjimi partnerji ter večji stik z državami evropske sosedske politike; podporo krepitvi in širjenju zmogljivosti socialnih partnerjev v pristojnosti agencije; povečanje prepoznavnosti Eurofounda med ključnimi deležniki.

Mary McCaughey

Head of Unit
Information and Communication

Mary McCaughey je vodja oddelka za informacije in komuniciranje pri Eurofoundu. Diplomirala je na Trinity College v Dublinu in College of Europe v Bruggeju, v Bruslju pa je začela delati pri Europolitics in Wall Street Journal Europe. Med prehodom države v demokracijo je sodelovala z Združenjem evropskih poslancev z Afriko (AWEPA) v Južni Afriki, leta 1998 pa je prevzela funkcijo tiskovne predstavnice delegacije Evropske unije v Pretoriji, kjer je vodila tiskovni in informacijski oddelek med pogajanji o sporazumu o prosti trgovini med EU in Južno Afriko. Po koncu vojne na Kosovu je delala kot svetovalka za komuniciranje pri Evropski agenciji za obnovo v Srbiji. Leta 2003 je prevzela funkcijo glavne urednice Eurofounda.

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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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