Eurofound

This is the Consolidated annual activity report of the Authorising Officer for the year 2015. The report describes Eurofound's activities, particularly its research, information and communication programmes and policy achievements, in relation to the objectives set in the Work Programme 2015.

Eurofound celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding in 2015. In 1975, the then European Community set up the Agency, charging it with the task of contributing to the planning and design of better living and working conditions in Europe.

This issue contains articles on: Findings in figures; Collaborating with the Dutch EU Presidency; Tracking the impact of the digital revolution; News in brief; and Latest from EurWORK.

In its latest World economic outlook (April 2016), the IMF has again lowered global growth forecasts for the coming year. Two factors cited for this more downbeat assessment are weak growth in developing economies, notably China, and ‘political discord’ in other major economies.

This issue contains articles on: Findings in figures; Preventing trafficking of labour in Europe; Looking ahead to the next four-year programme; News in brief; and Latest from EurWORK.

This issue contains articles on: Findings in figures; Eurofound marks International Women's Day; Constancy versus change: Working time in the EU; News in brief; and Latest from EurWORK.

This issue contains articles on: Findings in figures; Network of EU Agencies: a year in review; European Semester and the social partners; News in brief; and Latest from EurWORK.

More than one in 10 employees in the EU are employed on temporary contracts, but a majority of them would prefer a permanent contract. Temporary contracts help employers to manage their labour demand, but there are downsides for employees, such as job insecurity and lower pay.

This issue contains articles on: Findings in figures; Making a fresh start in 2016; Exploring the job-creation potential of SMEs; News in brief; and Latest from EurWORK.

In the last quarter of 2015, better economic data in the EU was overshadowed by increasing anxiety about the potential impact of declining growth and rising instability in developing economies. Aggregate unemployment rates in the Union are in their first sustained downward path since the global financial crisis began: in the EU28, unemployment stands at 9.2%; in the euro zone, at 10.5%.