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Labour market policies

To improve the functioning of labour markets, policymakers need to address labour market mismatches, labour market segmentation, and design employment policies geared towards the integration of specific groups into the labour market. Active labour market policies (ALMP) are public interventions which are explicitly targeted at groups of persons with difficulties in the labour market. These policies include Public Employment Services or other publicly funded services for jobseekers. Active support to employment is included in the European Pillar of Social Rights.
 

Topic

Eurofound research

Explore Eurofound's regularly updated EU PolicyWatch database of measures introduced by governments and social partners in the EU Member States to alleviate the effects on businesses, workers and citizens of recent crises – COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and rising inflation. It also lists policies to support the digital and green transitions, as well companies that need to restructure. 

Database: EU PolicyWatch

Recent updates

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Spanish presidency 2023: Eurofound's contribution

From July to December 2023, Eurofound supported the work of Spain's presidency of the Council of the EU, providing valuable research results on specific topics linked with the presidency priorities.

Web page

Eurofound expert(s)

John Hurley

John Hurley

John Hurley is a senior research manager in the Employment unit at Eurofound. He took up the role of research manager in February 2012. He is responsible for the European...

Senior research manager,
Employment research unit
Publications results (148)
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Gender differences in motivation to engage in platform work

The rise of the platform economy during the last decade is one of the main disrupting forces for European labour markets. While standard employment remains the norm, platforms are expanding their reach and diversifying into novel business models. In doing so, they are also attracting an increasing n

16 May 2023
Publication
Policy brief
New forms of employment
Platform work
Gender equality
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Digitalisation
Labour market policies
Labour market participation
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Changing labour markets: How to prevent a mismatch between skills and jobs in times of transition - Background paper

On request by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Eurofound prepared a background paper as a basis for the discussion at the informal Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) meeting on 3-4 May 2023. The paper outlines some of the key challenges

04 May 2023
Publication
Customised report
Skills and training
European Green Deal
Employment and labour markets
Digitalisation
Labour market policies
Just transition

Åtgärder för att motverka arbetskraftsbrist: Lärdomar för framtid politik

Allteftersom ekonomin återhämtar sig från covid-19-pandemin blir bristen på arbetskraft allt tydligare trots att kriget i Ukraina har påverkat energi- och råvarupriserna. Inom vissa sektorer och yrken har denna brist varit endemisk sedan en tid tillbaka, och har nu förvärrats av krisen. I denna

28 March 2023
Publication
Research report
Skills and training
Unemployment
Employment structure
European Green Deal
Sysselsättnings- och arbetsmarknader
COVID-19
Den digitala åldern: möjligheter och utmaningar för arbete och sysselsättning
Labour market policies
Just transition
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Konvergens i EU: den geografiska dimensionen, effekterna av covid-19 och politikens roll

Historiskt sett har den politiska debatten om konvergens i EU tagit fart i efterdyningarna av olika kriser. Syftet med denna rapport är att i covid-19-pandemins kölvatten utvärdera konvergenstrender under de senaste två decennierna. Studien inleds med en empirisk undersökning av ekonomisk, social

22 March 2023
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Främja social sammanhållning och konvergens
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Inequality

EU-ANSA mapping report: Socioeconomic aspects of sustainable development

The European Union Agencies Network on Scientific Advice (EU-ANSA) consists of technical and regulatory agencies that provide scientific advice to EU policymakers. This report demonstrates how EU-ANSA member Agencies are addressing the socioeconomic effects of sustainable development. It is based on

05 January 2022
Publication
Other
Skills and training
Social dialogue
Social policies
Structural change
European Green Deal
Gender equality
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Labour market policies
Just transition
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Initiatives to improve conditions for platform workers: Aims, methods, strengths and weaknesses

The rapid rise of the platform economy has led to a marked transformation of European labour markets, and existing regulatory frameworks and voluntary initiatives have yet to catch up. While platform work offers opportunities for workers and employers and potentially contributes to innovation

02 December 2021
Publication
Policy brief
New forms of employment
Platform work
Employment relationship
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Digitalisation
Labour market policies
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Exploring the social challenges of low carbon energy policies in Europe

This briefing is co-produced by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and Eurofound. It is based on the results of two complementary analyses by the EEA and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) on the socioeconomic effects of climate policies, in

29 October 2021
Publication
Other
Social policies
Structural change
European Green Deal
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Just transition
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Vad var det som hände? Covid-19-relaterade nedstängningar och förändringar på arbetsmarknaden

I och med covid-19-pandemin upphörde eller begränsades många ekonomiska verksamheter under 2020. Detta hade en omfattande påverkan på arbetsmarknaden. Nedgången i sysselsättning i början av pandemin var kraftigare än den under den globala finanskrisen. En ännu kraftigare nedgång i antalet arbetade

19 October 2021
Publication
Research report
Arbetstid
Distansarbete
Employment structure
Sysselsättnings- och arbetsmarknader
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Just transition
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Hantera brist på arbetskraft i EU:s medlemsstater

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

20 July 2021
Publication
Research report
Skills and training
Unemployment
Employment structure
European Green Deal
European Pillar of Social Rights
Sysselsättnings- och arbetsmarknader
COVID-19
Labour market policies
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Funktionsnedsättning och integration på arbetsmarknaden: Politiska trender och stödåtgärder i EU:s medlemsstater

I denna rapport undersöks utvecklingen av medlemsstaternas politik för att inkludera personer med funktionsnedsättning på den öppna arbetsmarknaden. Särskilt fokus ligger på tre stadier, dvs. möjligheterna att ta sig in på, stanna kvar på och återvända till arbetsmarknaden efter en tids frånvaro. I

19 April 2021
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Offentliga tjänster
Working conditions
European Pillar of Social Rights
COVID-19
Disability and chronic disease
Labour market policies
Labour market participation
Levnadsvillkor och livskvalitet
Labour and social regulation
Online resources results (199)

Impact of the April Agreements on job security in Spain

The Spanish trade unions and employers' organisations which signed the important labour market reform agreements in April 1997 (the "April agreements") have carried out a review of their results over the first six months, which was published in January 1998. The social partners agree in general that

27 januari 1998
Article
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Non-standard employment
Labour law
Social protection
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Redundancy agreement signed at Italian State Railways

In December 1997, the Italian State Railways signed an agreement with transport workers' trade unions on the management of redundancies. The agreement provides for the creation of a fund to deal with redundant staff by means of "mobility" procedures, the Wages Guarantee Fund, job-security agreements

27 december 1997
Article
Restructuring
Retirement
Social protection
Labour market policies
Employment relationship
Working conditions
Social policies
Working conditions and sustainable work

Employment policy debate focuses on working time

A November 1997 orientation debate on employment policy in Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies has prompted several motions. The most important of these urges the Government to work towards an agreement between the social partners that contains both the outlines of a framework law on working time and

27 december 1997
Article
Labour market policies
Working time
Collective bargaining
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Unions set agendas for collective bargaining in 1998

Spain's UGT and CC.OO trade union confederations want to put employment at the top of their collective bargaining agenda in 1998. Job creation and promoting secure employment are the main demands.

27 december 1997
Article
Labour market policies
Collective bargaining
Social dialogue
Employment relationship
Pay and income
Employee representation
Health and well-being at work
Working time
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Clash over 35-hour week in Greece

In December 1996, a committee consisting of experts from Greek trade unions and employers' organisations was set up to discuss the effects of reducing working time to 35 hours a week. However, on completion of its task in October 1997, it had become clear that the differences between the two sides

27 december 1997
Article
Collective bargaining
Social dialogue
Working time
Work organisation
Labour market policies
Pay and income
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Employment Summit: Belgium demands quantifiable employment objectives

The Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union organised a special Employment Summit [1] European Council meeting on 20-21 November 1997 (EU9711168F [2]). In order to prepare for the event, the Belgian Government and social partners organised a conference aimed at formulating the point of view of

27 november 1997
Article
Labour market policies
Social partners
Working time
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Employment and social policy in the 1998 Budget

The Spanish Government has presented an austere Budget for 1998 aimed at achieving the economic convergence required by the Maastricht Treaty. The trade unions and employers' organisations have reacted to the proposals with some criticisms regarding employment and social policy.

27 november 1997
Article
Labour and social regulation
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets

Special clauses and new trends in collective bargaining in Spain

There has been an increase in the number of Spanish collective agreements with "special clauses" as a result of the labour reforms of 1994 and 1997, according to reports on bargaining published in late 1997. The latest topics covered by these clauses are functional and geographical mobility

27 november 1997
Article
Collective bargaining
Labour market policies
Working time
Employment relationship
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Working time reduction to create more jobs in Greek banking

The employers' organisation and trade unions in the Greek banking sector recently carried out a joint study to examine the potential effects of reducing working time to 35 hours a week. Although the two sides agree that employment will increase by 4%, there are still disagreements over the

27 november 1997
Article
Working time
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets

Unions reopen debate on submerged employment in Spain

Trade union observations on the Government's Employment Plan, issued in September 1997, and an official survey by the Centre for Sociological Research have reopened the debate on "submerged" or "informal" employment in Spain, this time with respect to employment and labour relations. Whereas the

27 oktober 1997
Article
Labour market policies
Non-standard employment
Employment and labour markets
Blogs results (10)
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EU lack of labour won't be solved by skills alone: Improving job quality is key

The European Commission declared 2023 as the European Year of Skills, stating ‘Helping people get the right skills for quality jobs and helping companies, in particular small and medium enterprises, address skills shortages in the EU is what this year is all about.’

27 mars 2023
Tina Weber
Blog
Skills and training
Working conditions
Gender equality
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
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Recovering from this pandemic means rebuilding hope for the future

We need to study and understand the blow Europe’s youth have suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to adjust recovery and resilience measures to their needs: without prioritising young people in the present, we have little hope for the future.

3 december 2021
Ivailo Kalfin
Blog
Youth
Subjective well-being
COVID-19
Labour market policies
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The pandemic aggravated labour shortages in some sectors; the problem is now emerging in others

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

20 juli 2021
Dragoș Adăscăliței
Blog
Skills and training
Employment structure
European Pillar of Social Rights
Employment and labour markets
COVID-19
Labour market policies
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Minimum wages rise again, but the pandemic puts a brake on their growth

Decision-makers approached minimum wage setting for 2021 cautiously due to the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Despite this, nominal statutory minimum wages rose in most Member States and the UK, although at lower rates than in recent years.

8 juni 2021
Carlos Vacas‑Soriano
Blog
Social dialogue
Pay and income
Working poor
Minimum wage
European Pillar of Social Rights
Labour market policies
Industrial relations and social dialogue
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Two worlds of income support during COVID-19

​​​​​​​To date, close to six million workers in the EU have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. Many businesses have closed their doors forever or been pushed to the brink, bringing severe financial and psychological hardship to the individuals and families affected. However, the toll of the pandemic

9 februari 2021
Tina Weber
Blog
COVID-19
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Pay and income
Social protection
Unemployment
Working time
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Can short-time working save jobs during the COVID-19 crisis?

On 2 April, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new fund of up to €100 billion to support EU Member States to introduce short-time working or similar schemes, including for the self-employed, in an effort to safeguard jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Known as SURE

5 maj 2020
Tina Weber
Blog
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Labour and social regulation
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Europe’s low-carbon transition makes economic sense

At the very outset of its mandate, the new European Commission presented the European Green Deal, establishing the objective of becoming the first climate-neutral bloc in the world by 2050. The initiative emphasises the seriousness which the European Commission places on the climate and biodiversity

21 februari 2020
James Higgins
Blog
Employment and labour markets
European Green Deal
Industrial policy
Job creation
Just transition
Labour market policies
Structural change
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Where are all the good jobs?

Economic disparities have been decreasing between EU member states over the past decade, but at the same time inequality has been growing within member states. Despite national level convergence, the gap in wealth and income between the rich and the poor is growing in most of Europe. Some of this

29 oktober 2019
John Hurley
Blog
Employment structure
Labour market policies
Job creation
Job quality
Employment and labour markets
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The challenge of plenty: Tackling labour shortages in the EU

Unemployment in the EU is continuing to fall, with the rate approaching its 2008 low point. This is good news: the Europe 2020 target of 75% employment in the working age population is now in sight for many Member States. However, as unemployment reaches new lows, the opposite problem is emerging –

19 november 2018
Catherine Cerf
Blog
Labour market participation
Labour market policies
Migration and mobility
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working time
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Platform work – Breaking barriers or breaking bad?

In the abstract, platform work is the matching of supply and demand for paid work through an online platform. In practice, most people are likely to have encountered it through big online platforms such as Uber, Deliveroo or Amazon Mechanical Turk. This is a new form employment that began to emerge

2 november 2018
Irene Mandl
Blog
Platform work
Working conditions
New forms of employment
Digitalisation
Labour market policies
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Working conditions and sustainable work
Upcoming publications results (2)

Company practices to tackle labour shortages

This report provides updated data on the scale of labour shortages and labour market slack in the EU and at Member State level and focusses on organisational policies aimed at attracting workers in shortage occupations. It provides lessons on steps employers can take to fill vacancies, whether actin

September 2024
Forthcoming
Publication
Research report
Employment and labour markets
Job creation
Labour market policies

COVID-19 support measures and their effects on mitigating the longer-term consequences of COVID-19 for business, work and employment

Job retention schemes were the main policy instruments used across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic to preserve employment and support businesses. The report provides an analysis of job retention schemes in the EU, focusing on their institutional characteristics, their impact on employment levels

September 2024
Forthcoming
Publication
Research report
COVID-19
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies

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