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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 (149)
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Disability and labour market integration: Policy trends and support in EU Member States

This report examines policy developments in EU Member States aimed at supporting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the open labour market, with a particular focus on the three stages of entering into employment, staying in the job and returning to work after an absence. It explores the

19 April 2021
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Public services
Working conditions
European Pillar of Social Rights
COVID-19
Disability and chronic disease
Labour market policies
Labour market participation
Living conditions and quality of life
Labour and social regulation
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COVID-19: Implications for employment and working life

Disclaimer - Please note that this report was updated with revised data (specifically for Bulgaria) on 23 March 2021.This report sets out to assess the initial impact of the COVID-19 crisis on employment in Europe (up to Q2 2020), including its effects across sectors and on different categories of

11 March 2021
Publication
Research report
Social dialogue
Social policies
Social partners
Non-standard employment
Pay and income
Social protection
Working time
Unemployment
Employment status
Employment and labour markets
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Living conditions
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ERM report 2020: Restructuring across borders

This report has a dual focus. First, it reviews recent restructuring activity in the EU, from January 2019 up to and including the first impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. The second part presents an analysis of transnational restructuring cases – those that affect workers in more than one country. The

10 November 2020
Publication
Research report
Restructuring
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
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COVID-19: Policy responses across Europe

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of individuals and societies, including on the economy and labour markets, is unprecedented. The impact of the global health emergency has placed a growing number of businesses under threat, putting the jobs of more and more workers at risk and

24 June 2020
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Social partners
Working time
Teleworking
Unemployment
Employment and labour markets
Agreements
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Industrial relations and social dialogue
Industrial relations
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Labour market change: Trends and policy approaches towards flexibilisation

What have been the major trends and policy developments regarding the flexibilisation of employment in recent years? Eurofound’s work programme for 2017–2020 set out to document and capture these changes in the world of work. This flagship publication provides an overview of developments in Europe

16 April 2020
Publication
Flagship report
Platform work
Non-standard employment
Working time
Structural change
New forms of employment
Employment structure
Inclusive labour markets
Employment status
Employment relationship
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
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Upward convergence in working conditions

Social convergence has gained an equal footing alongside economic convergence as an EU goal in the wake of the economic crisis. This report presents the results of a study into convergence in working conditions, a major component of social policymaking. It examines whether working conditions have

12 December 2019
Publication
Research report
Youth
Working conditions
Labour market policies
Labour market participation
Promoting social cohesion and convergence
Working conditions and sustainable work

Labour market segmentation: Piloting new empirical and policy analyses

This report sets out to describe what labour market segmentation is and why it is problematic for the labour market and society, as well as disadvantaged groups. It takes a broad view of the term to examine the situation that arises when the divergence in working conditions between different groups

02 December 2019
Publication
Research report
Non-standard employment
Employment structure
Inclusive labour markets
Employment relationship
Minimum wage
Labour market policies
Labour market participation
Employment and labour markets

Reshoring in Europe: Overview 2015–2018

Reshoring – namely the relocation of value chain activities back to the home country or its nearby region – has attracted an increasing interest both among scholars and policymakers. The European Reshoring Monitor is a collaborative project between Eurofound and a consortium of Italian universities

01 April 2019
Publication
Research report
Restructuring
Small and medium-sized enterprises
Industrial policy
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Labour market policies
Job creation
Employment and labour markets
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Company initiatives to align apprenticeships to advanced manufacturing

Building on the analysis of national apprenticeship systems in the 2018 Eurofound report Adaptation of national apprenticeship systems to advanced manufacturing, this report summarises the results of 14 case studies of good practice in the manufacturing sector in five EU Member States (Denmark, Fran

28 February 2019
Publication
Research report
Skills and training
Youth
Employment and labour markets
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Labour market policies
Industrial policy
Job creation

Concept and practice of a living wage

A living wage has been defined as a measure of income that allows an employee a basic but socially acceptable standard of living. In recent decades, living wage initiatives have emerged in a small number of mainly English-speaking countries, including the UK and Ireland. These initiatives have

30 November 2018
Publication
Research report
Pay and income
Working poor
Inclusive labour markets
Minimum wage
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Online resources results (199)

Government tables proposals for labour market integration of immigrants

On 5 March 2002, the coalition government of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and Conservative People's Party (Konservative Folkeparti) presented a new plan for the labour market integration of non-EU immigrants and refugees, seeking to ensure that more people from these groups find employment at an

25 March 2002
Article
Employment and labour markets
Migration and mobility
Labour market policies
Social policies

Barcelona summit assesses labour market progress

The European Council met under the Spanish Presidency in Barcelona on 15–16 March 2002 for its annual spring summit on the economic, social and environmental situation in the European Union. Previous European Councils of this type had been held in Lisbon in March 2000 (EU0004241F [1]) and Stockholm

19 March 2002
Article
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Social policies

Labour costs and income distribution examined

Labour costs and pay, and their macroeconomic effect, are currently very topical in Spain, with the social partners concluding in December 2001 an intersectoral agreement on bargaining, which provides that pay increases in 2002 should be linked to inflation and productivity gains Here we examine

26 February 2002
Article
Employment and labour markets
Labour market policies
Collective bargaining
Industrial relations
Industrial relations and social dialogue

CEOE sets out priorities for 2002

With Spain holding the EU Presidency in the first half of 2002, the Spanish employers' confederation CEOE has set out its priorities for the Presidency, which include revitalising the Lisbon strategy, ensuring the success of the euro, making enlargement a means of greater cohesion, reinforcing the

26 February 2002
Article
Social dialogue
Labour market policies
Collective bargaining
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Cgil congress affirms strong opposition to government

At its national congress held in February 2002, Cgil, Italy's largest trade union confederation, focused largely on its relationship with the centre-right government and the latter's current reform initiatives. The possibility of a general strike raised by Cgil was strong rejected by Cisl and Uil

25 February 2002
Article
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets

Development of pay and labour costs in 2001 examined

In January 2002, the Collective Agreement Archive (WSI-Tarifarchiv) of the Institute for Economic and Social Research (Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut, WSI) within the Hans Böckler Foundation (Hans Böckler Stiftung) published its annual collective bargaining report, covering the

7 February 2002
Article
Labour market policies
Pay and income
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

LO and DA sign agreement on integration of refugees and immigrants

Issues related to the presence of refugees and non-EU immigrants in Denmark and, in particular to their integration into Danish society, have been the subject of intensive and often heated debate in recent years (DK0005179F [1]). Following the general election in November 2001, when the previous

3 February 2002
Article
Employment and labour markets
Migration and mobility
Labour market policies
Social policies

Unemployment rises again

For the first time since 1994, unemployment rose in Spain in 2001, particularly from August onward. Whereas the government claims that the change is due to the international situation, the trade unions are calling for more substantial employment policies.

3 February 2002
Article
Unemployment
Labour market policies
Job creation
Employment and labour markets

2000 annual review for the USA

The USA's gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 5% between 1999 and 2000. Personal consumption expenditures rose by 5.3%, gross private domestic investment by 10.2%, and government consumption expenditures and gross investment (including federal, state, and local governments) by 2.8%. The inflation

11 December 2001
Article
Labour market policies
Industrial relations
Collective bargaining
Pay and income
Working time
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Social partners debate priorities as economy slows down

Since the beginning of 2001, predictions of an economic slowdown have been common in Ireland. The impact of the significant 'external shock' associated with the terrorist attacks on the USA on 11 September 2001 has increased the likelihood of a short-term slowdown. Indeed, it appears that the

4 November 2001
Article
Social partners
Unemployment
Labour market policies
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
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 March 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 July 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 June 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 February 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 May 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 February 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 October 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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