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Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey

Eurofound has adjusted its research to monitor the evolving situation during the COVID-19 pandemic and to collect data regarding the impact on the lives of EU citizens and policy responses to mitigate the effects.

Data explorer

In April 2020, the Agency first launched the e-survey, Living, working and COVID-19, completing a fifth iteration from 29 March to 2 May 2022.

Survey objectives

The Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey aims to capture the far-reaching implications of the pandemic for the way people live and work across the EU, with the aim of helping policymakers to bring about an equal recovery from the crisis.

Focus of survey

The survey examined quality of life and quality of society during the pandemic, with questions ranging from life satisfaction, happiness and optimism, to health and levels of trust in institutions. It also focused on the work situation of respondents, their work–life balance and use of teleworking during the crisis. In the second round, questions also centred on job quality and health and safety at work, online schooling, use of online services, as well as the extent to which they had requested and availed of government support schemes. Additional questions in the third round covered attitudes and willingness to be vaccinated, trust in science, use of and trust in social media. Questions also examined access to and quality of public services during COVID-19. The fourth round was a panel survey, recontacting panel respondents only, making it possible to track developments since the start of the pandemic.

While a continuation of previous surveys, the fifth round focuses more on questions related to housing, living and financial conditions, and reflections on teleworking and work–life balance, including the division of labour at home. It also sheds light on a new uncertain reality caused by the war in Ukraine, record- high inflation and sharp rises in the cost of living. In parallel, the European Training Foundation (ETF) used a shortened questionnaire to field a pilot e-survey in 10 EU neighbouring countries. First results from the fifth round were published in July 2022 and a joint Eurofound-ETF factsheet presenting a selection of the final results of the social and economic situation of respondents in the EU27 and 10 additional countries was published in December 2022. 

Scope of survey

The e-survey focused primarily on the EU27 Member States. As part of the fifth round, Eurofound collaborated with the ETF using an adapted questionnaire to carry out a pilot survey in 10 neighbouring countries: Albania, Georgia, Jordan, Kosovo*, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Palestine.**

Round 5: 29 March–2 May 2022

Round 4: 21 October–30 November 2021 (panel survey)

Round 312 February–31 March 2021

Round 2: 22 June–27 July 2020

Round 19 April–11 June 2020

Results highlight the challenges facing the EU and issues for future focus, for example teleworking, the right to disconnect, health and well-being, working time and access to public services

Data: Living, working and COVID-19 data

Publication series: COVID-19

Infographic: Living, working and COVID-19

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
** This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual position of the Member States on this issue.

Disclaimer

When freely submitting your request, you are consenting Eurofound in handling your personal data to reply to you. Your request will be handled in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data. More information, please read the Data Protection Notice.

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