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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.

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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)

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

Impact of the recession on age management policies - Case study: BARCO, Belgium

According to representatives of the company interviewed for this case study, there has been a greater willingness to recruit people aged 50 or more during the economic cycle of the past two to three years, but this is cyclical. Typically, when demand for labour increases in a positive economic cycle

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)

INE annual report highlights low wages

The Institute of Labour (INE) of Greece's GSEE and ADEDY trade union confederations issued its third annual economic and employment outlook in September 2001. The report highlights wage differentials between EU Member States and income inequality in Greece, contrasted with the good performance of

9 oktober 2001
Article
Social partners
Pay and income
Labour market policies
Unemployment
Employment and labour markets

New Employment Contracts Act in force

The Employment Contracts Act – known as the "constitution for working life" - is a cornerstone of Finnish employment law, and governs such basic issues as drawing up contracts of employment, the rights and duties of employers and employees, the terms and conditions of employment, the grounds for

27 juli 2001
Article
Labour market policies
Collective bargaining
Employment relationship
Labour law
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

2001 NAP focuses on growth and employment

Finland's National Action Plan () for employment for 2001 [1], in response to the EU Employment Guidelines [2], was presented in May 2001. [1] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/2001/may/nap2001fi_en.pdf [2] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/empl&esf/docs/com2001_64_en.pdf

27 juli 2001
Article
Labour market policies
Job creation
Retirement
Skills and training
Gender equality
Employment and labour markets

New initiatives on gender equality

In summer 2001, addressing gender inequalities has been high on the agenda of the government and social partners in Portugal. In June, new legislation came into effect aimed at reinforcing mechanisms to monitor and punish discriminatory employment practices, and at measuring the progress being made

27 juli 2001
Article
Gender equality
Discrimination at work
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Social policies

Social partners assess NAP

In April 2001, the Spanish government presented its 2001 National Action Plan (NAP) for employment, which involves spending over ESP 2 billion on measure to combat unemployment. Trade unions have criticised the fact that the Plan was not negotiated with the social partners, though they were informed

27 juni 2001
Article
Labour market policies
Gender equality
Employment and labour markets

Youth employment scheme consolidated

In June 2001, the French government announced measures aimed at consolidating the "youth employment-new services" scheme (EJNS) introduced in 1997. The majority of the jobs created under the scheme will be renewed while, for the young people concerned, the government is seeking to establish support

27 juni 2001
Article
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets

Council of Ministers reaches political agreement on employee consultation Directive

On 11 June 2001, the EU Employment and Social Policy Council of Ministers, meeting in Luxembourg (EU0106220F [1]) reached political agreement on a common position on the proposed Directive establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community [2]

27 juni 2001
Article
Labour market policies
Social policies
Employment and labour markets

Gothenburg summit focuses on employment and the ageing workforce

The European Council met on 15-16 June 2001 near the end of the Swedish EU Presidency, which hands the baton to the Belgian government on 1 July. The Council's debates took place against a backdrop of anti-globalisation demonstrations staged across the city of Gothenburg. A number of social policy

27 juni 2001
Article
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets

Trade union views and proposals on the 2001 NAP

In spring 2001, the Greek government has been drawing up its new National Action Plan (NAP) for employment, in response to the EU Employment Guidelines, and conducting a dialogue with the social partners on the NAP's content. Here we outline the positions and proposals of the Greek General

27 april 2001
Article
Labour market policies
Work organisation
Gender equality
Employment and labour markets

Government introduces new labour market reform

A series of intersectoral agreements on employment promotion signed by the Spanish social partners in April 1997 are due to expire in May 2001. The social partners started negotiations over a new version of these agreements in summer 2000 but, in view of their failure to reach a consensus, in March

27 mars 2001
Article
Non-standard employment
Labour law
Collective bargaining
Labour market policies
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue
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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