labour_market_policies.jpg

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

es-presidency-logo.png

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 (149)

Impact of the recession on age management policies: Czech Republic

Eurofound’s research on ‘Restructuring in recession and labour force participation’ explored the age management practices of companies in light of restructuring undergone during the recession. The study looked at policy in relation to the retention of older workers (aged 50 or more) in employment at

22 January 2012
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Sustainable work
Retirement
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of the recession on age management policies: Latvia

Eurofound’s research on ‘Restructuring in recession and labour force participation’ explored the age management practices of companies in light of restructuring undergone during the recession. The study looked at policy in relation to the retention of older workers (aged 50 or more) in employment at

22 January 2012
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Sustainable work
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of the recession on age management policies: Netherlands

Eurofound’s research on ‘Restructuring in recession and labour force participation’ explored the age management practices of companies in light of restructuring undergone during the recession. The study looked at policy in relation to the retention of older workers (aged 50 or more) in employment at

22 January 2012
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Sustainable work
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of the recession on age management policies: Austria

Eurofound’s research on ‘Restructuring in recession and labour force participation’ explored the age management practices of companies in light of restructuring undergone during the recession. The study looked at policy in relation to the retention of older workers (aged 50 or more) in employment at

22 January 2012
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Sustainable work
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of the recession on age management policies: Belgium

Eurofound’s research on ‘Restructuring in recession and labour force participation’ explored the age management practices of companies in light of restructuring undergone during the recession. The study looked at policy in relation to the retention of older workers (aged 50 or more) in employment at

22 January 2012
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Sustainable work
Retirement
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of the recession on age management policies: Sweden

Eurofound’s research on ‘Restructuring in recession and labour force participation’ explored the age management practices of companies in light of restructuring undergone during the recession. The study looked at policy in relation to the retention of older workers (aged 50 or more) in employment at

22 January 2012
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Sustainable work
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of the recession on age management policies - Case study: Latvian Railway Group, Latvia

As is the case in many other organisations operating in the transport industry in Latvia, Latvian Railway Group’s human resources (HR) strategy, policies and activities are built on the General Agreement and collective agreements. The aim of the General Agreement and collective agreements is to

22 January 2012
Publication
Case study
Social policies
Sustainable work
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of the recession on age management policies - Case study: Vattenfall Nordic and Vattenfall Services, Sweden

Vattenfall launched its age management programme in 2001. As an early adopter of such programmes and policies, Vattenfall has been seen as a forerunner in Sweden. It won an Employer of the Year Award in 2006 and received considerable attention in the media for the programme’s innovative approach

22 January 2012
Publication
Case study
Social policies
Sustainable work
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of the recession on age management policies - Case study: T-Mobile, Czech Republic

T-Mobile HR manager confirmed that age management is an emerging concept in the Czech Republic in general and in the company’s HR policy in particular. Czech firms have not developed age management measures in greater extent due to the excess of labour force supply over demand. In addition, early

22 January 2012
Publication
Social policies
Sustainable work
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of the recession on age management policies - Case study: Abengoa, Spain

There are two approaches to age management at Abengoa. Firstly, Abengoa has HR practices and policies that promote the employability and mobility of all workers - although these policies apply to the whole workforce, regardless of age. These policies enable employees to remain in the job market and

22 January 2012
Publication
Case study
Social policies
Sustainable work
Structural change
Working conditions
Work organisation
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Working conditions and sustainable work
Online resources results (199)

National Minimum Wage debate gathers pace

Since the UK introduced its National Minimum Wage in April 1999 (UK9904196F [1]), Ireland is the only EU Member State that currently has no provisions for either a statutory or collectively agreed national minimum wage, or a system of legally-binding industry-level collective agreements setting

27 juli 1999
Article
Labour and social regulation
Minimum wage
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Collective bargaining
Industrial relations
Industrial relations and social dialogue

First two years of the agreement for employment stability assessed

In summer 1999, at the half-way point of the Spanish social partners' four-year pact for employment stability, later endorsed by parliament, the parties have evaluated its results. After two years, employment - and especially stable employment - has increased significantly. However, there has been

27 juli 1999
Article
Social dialogue
Job creation
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations and social dialogue

No trade union support for Spain's 1999 NAP

The Spanish government's 1999 National Action Plan (NAP) for employment, in response to the EU Employment Guidelines, has been severely attacked by the trade unions. The unions criticise the content of the NAP, approved in May 1999, and the funds assigned to it, and claim that it appeared late and

27 juli 1999
Article
Labour market policies
Unemployment
Employment and labour markets

Trends in collective agreements reviewed

A survey of the most important collective agreements signed in the Netherlands so far in 1999, published in June, finds moderate average pay increases of 2.7%. The number of agreements on training, flexible pension schemes and the accumulation time off has increased in recent years. While employers

27 juli 1999
Article
Collective bargaining
Pay and income
Labour market policies
Skills and training
Retirement
Working time
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Social policies
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Wages, competitiveness and unemployment analysed

In June 1999, the Institute of Labour of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (INE-GSEE) published a study examining the prevalent orthodox thinking in Greece that increases in real wages reduce profitability, investments, employment and competitiveness. The study claims that this belief is not

27 juli 1999
Article
Pay and income
Labour market policies
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Working conditions and sustainable work

The social partners and the regional employment networks

A conference in June 1999 examined "regional employment networks" in Portugal. These networks have been growing in importance as means for implementing labour market policies, in line with the objectives of the National Action Plan for employment. The social partners have been involved in various

27 juli 1999
Article
Labour market policies
Social partners
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Commission report assesses potential impact of cutting non-wage labour costs

The reduction of taxation on labour and other non-wage labour costs has been part of the European Commission's strategy to raise employment for almost five years, as it is considered that high non-wage labour costs, particularly on low-paid labour, are leading to high rates of unemployment among low

27 juni 1999
Article
Labour market policies
Social protection
Social policies

Joint social partner conference highlights challenges facing European private security industry

The European social dialogue in the private security industry between the European Confederation of Security Services (CoESS) on the employer side and the European Regional Organisation of the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees (Euro-FIET) on the

27 juni 1999
Article
Labour market policies

Nurses resign to seek better pay and conditions

Over late 1998 and the first half of 1999, some hundreds of nurses have either threatened to leave their jobs or have actually resigned, at a time when national unemployment remains relatively high. However, unemployment among nurses in Sweden is almost zero at present. Nurses can obtain other

27 maj 1999
Article
Working conditions and sustainable work
Labour market policies
Pay and income
Working conditions

Ireland's NAP on employment: an update

The Deputy Prime Minister (Tanaiste), unveiled Ireland's National Action Plan [1] (NAP) on employment on 20 April 1998 (IE9805116F [2]). Like all EU Member States, Ireland drew up an NAP based on the EU's 1998 Employment Guidelines [3], based around the "pillars" of employability, entrepreneurship

27 maj 1999
Article
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Blogs results (10)
ef23046.png

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
ef21087.png

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
ef21082.png

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
ef21078.png

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
ef21048.png

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
image_blog_short_term_working_05052020.png

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
image_blog_low_carbon_24022020.png

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
image_1_blog_good_jobs_29102019.png

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
image2_blog_the_challenge_of_plenty_19112018.png

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
image_blog_platform_work_02112018.jpg

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

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.