Publications

Challenges for sustainable work
07 October 2021,  High-level conference on 'Quality Work for a Quality Life' - Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Presentation by Barbara Gerstenberger, Head of Unit for Working Life, Eurofound

The economic and labour market contribution of international businesses is well recognised, but policymakers could do more to help such enterprises to develop their activities. This policy brief explores the workplace practices in export-oriented establishments that may contribute to their success. It also identifies aspects of their workplace practices that can result in ‘win–win’ outcomes, ones that are mutually beneficial for employers and employees.

The impact of COVID-19 has moved public health up the EU social policy agenda. As the EU directs its efforts towards establishing a European Health Union to guard against future health crises, this policy brief examines the extent to which the EU achieved upward convergence in terms of health and healthcare outcomes, as well as health expenditures and delivery, prior to the pandemic. It also examines convergence patterns in infections and deaths from COVID-19 and in the mitigating measures adopted by the EU and national governments.

I över tio år har osäkerheten inför framtiden ökat i de flesta delar av EU. Många människor anser att samhället försämras, vilket har gett upphov till en allmän pessimism. Finns det ett samband mellan missnöjespartiernas ökande popularitet och den ökande pessimismen? Dessa negativa känslor kan påverka det politiska klimatet negativt i enskilda medlemsländer och även undergräva det europeiska projektets legitimitet. I denna rapport identifieras vilka faktorer som mest påverkar människors syn på framtiden.

Digital teknik har gjort det möjligt för många arbetstagare att utföra sitt arbete när som helst och var som helst, med de fördelar och nackdelar som detta innebär. Eurofounds uppgifter visar att det är dubbelt så sannolikt att distansarbetare överskrider gränsen på 48 timmars arbetstid, vilar otillräckligt och arbetar på sin lediga tid, vilket leder till dominoeffekter på deras fysiska och psykiska hälsa. Med anledning av detta problem har det framförts krav på ”rätten att inte vara uppkopplad”.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a surge in telework, with dramatic increases in the number of employees working from home (teleworking) in many European countries. What for many employees started out as a mandatory move seems to have transformed into a preference among the majority for part-time or full-time telework.

Following the declines in employment rates and working hours across Europe in 2020, economies began to show signs of recovery during the first quarter of 2021. The gradual rekindling of economic activity has led to a surge in demand for workers and reawakened concerns over labour shortages. Difficulty filling vacancies was thought to be among the key factors holding back growth, competitiveness and service delivery in a number of sectors prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite a temporary weakening in demand for labour during the pandemic, this was not the case in all sectors, with some seeing pre-existing shortages worsen.

Samtidigt som arbetslösheten fortfarande är en stor utmaning i Europa, råder det brist på arbetskraft i vissa länder, sektorer och yrken. I rapporten undersöks olika metoder för att identifiera arbetskraftsbrist och nationella politiska debatter i frågan kartläggs. Offentliga åtgärder och arbetsmarknadsparternas åtgärder för att hantera bristen på arbetskraft dokumenteras, exempelvis åtgärder som främjar geografisk eller yrkesmässig rörlighet, fokuserar på kompetensbrist och underinvestering i kompetens, förbättrar arbets- och anställningsvillkor samt ger bättre matchningar. 

Over the last decade, the EU has made slow progress towards gender equality. As achievements in gender equality vary considerably by Member State, it is important to understand the evolution of disparities between the Member States and the implications this has for upward economic and social convergence in the EU. Crucially, the impact of the COVID-19 crisis not only threatens to undo past achievements but may well result in increasing disparities between Member States.

Eurofound welcomed Ivailo Kalfin to his new role as Executive Director on 1 June. After one month in the job, he reflects on the challenges facing the EU, how they will impact on the work of Eurofound and his priorities for shaping the Agency over the next five years.