Innovation and job creation in companies
11 January 2021

Creating and retaining more jobs in European companies involves a range of external factors, as well as growth and innovation within companies to improve competitivenRead more
Creating and retaining more jobs in European companies involves a range of external factors, as well as growth and innovation within companies to improve competitiveness. Innovation – changes in products, processes and in other aspects of their businesses – can help companies adapt to changed circumstances, add value and become more competitive, increasing their job creation potential. Furthermore, human resources and work organisation practices create the right work environment to support innovation by enhancing skills, cooperation, quality, innovative behaviour, employee involvement in problem-solving and access to external ideas.
Recent updates
Cooperatives and social enterprises: Work and employment in selected countries
The Future of Manufacturing in Europe
EU context
TopPolicymakers need access to knowledge on which company innovations work in terms of productivity and company performance; which supports for innovation are effective; how best to foster job creation; and motives and barriers to job creation for certain types of organisations.
Read morePolicymakers need access to knowledge on which company innovations work in terms of productivity and company performance; which supports for innovation are effective; how best to foster job creation; and motives and barriers to job creation for certain types of organisations.
Faced with a slow economic recovery after the most severe restructuring of the European economy in decades, one of the key policy challenges of the European Commission is to achieve job-rich growth. The need to stimulate investment for the purpose of creating jobs is a top priority and is supported by the Europe 2020 ‘Agenda for new skills and jobs’ and the European Semester process. The Investment Plan for Europe was adopted in November 2014 and focuses on mobilising finance, supporting investment in the real economy and creating an investment-friendly environment.
- European Commission: Europe 2020 Agenda for new skills and jobs
- European Commission: European Semester
- European Commission: Investment Plan for Europe
Eurofound's work
TopEurofound research in this area provides valuable insights on key topics:
Read moreEurofound research in this area provides valuable insights on key topics:
- how win–win arrangements are creating innovative measures through social dialogue at company level
- how the continued growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is changing their employment criteria in order to respond to customers’ needs
- the importance of upskilling and strategic employee sharing in an ever-changing marketplace.
Key contributions
Building largely on previous Eurofound work and data from the third European Company Survey (ECS) carried out in 2013, Eurofound has explored the company-internal factors and practices as well as external factors that stimulate innovative behaviour, enhance competitiveness and boost the creation and retention of jobs.
The survey provides comprehensive information on workplace innovation practices in terms of work organisation, human resource management, direct participation and social dialogue. More in-depth studies analysed:
- the motives behind the adoption of workplace innovation practices that enable employees to participate in organisational change and improve the quality of their working life and organisation’s performance;
- practices in EU companies for direct and indirect employee participation in decision-making, and which of these practices are beneficial for both the establishment and the employees.
Key outputs over the years
Publications & data
TopThe sections below provide access to a range of publications, data and ongoing work on this topic.
- Publications (26)
- Ongoing work (3)
Publications
Eurofound publications come in a variety of formats, including reports, policy briefs, blogs, articles and presentations.
Cooperatives and social enterprises: Work and employment in selected countries
Publication 12 June 2019Win–win arrangements: Innovative measures through social dialogue at company level
Publication 6 September 2016Ongoing work
Research continues in this topic on a variety of themes, which are outlined below with links to forthcoming titles.