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Job creation

Job creation refers to the process of providing new jobs, especially for people who were previously unemployed or inactive. Job creation is a key priority for EU social and employment policy. 

Topic

Recent updates

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European Restructuring Monitor

Since 2002, the European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) has been monitoring the employment impact of large-scale restructuring events in Europe and covers the 27 EU Member States plus Norway.

Web page

Eurofound research

Research carries out research on employment and changing labour markets, restructuring and job creation in the EU Member States. The investigation of factors supporting or inhibiting job creation also requires access to company-level information. Eurofound has conducted four editions of its European Company Survey (ECS) since 2003, providing comparative evidence on company practices and their link to innovation and job creation.

Jobs monitor

Eurofound’s European Jobs Monitor (EJM) looks in detail at recent shifts in employment at Member State and aggregate EU levels, covering cases of job creation and job loss by occupation and sector.

Publication: European Jobs Monitor 2021: Gender gaps and the employment structure

 

Restructuring monitor

The European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) has recently explored the case of SMEs, meaning companies with fewer than 250 employees, as a source of job creation. It found that SMEs are likely to have contributed to improved employment levels and increasingly gain attention as a source of job creation in Europe. However, due to the large scale of the SME population, there is considerable heterogeneity among them, and not all are equally dynamic job creators.

Born globals

‘Born global’ enterprises – young companies with an international mindset – are also dynamic in job creation, despite their low share among enterprises. Eurofound research has looked at the potential of job creation in these new international businesses. It characterises born globals and outline their main strengths and weaknesses, as well as economic and labour market potential. 

Sector focus

A study on the creation of more and better jobs in home-care services highlights the persistent labour shortages in the health and social care sector. It analyses initiatives that were successful in either creating more jobs in the sector, or improving the quality of its jobs, with the dual aim of attracting new recruits and retaining existing staff.

As part of a pilot project on the future of manufacturing in Europe from 2015 to 2018, Eurofound gathered information on the reshoring of manufacturing and other value-chain activities to the EU and the resulting job gains.

Key outputs

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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...

1 April 2019
Publication
Research report
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More and better jobs in home-care services

As Europe’s population ages, the number of adults needing long-term care is increasing. There are, however, persistent labour shortages in the health and social care sector; well-qualified staff are particularly...

10 September 2013
Publication
Research report

EU context

The European Commission’s Investment Plan for Europe adopted in November 2014 focuses on creating jobs and boosting growth by making smarter use of financial resources, removing obstacles to investment and providing visibility and technical assistance to investment projects. Building on this, the InvestEU Programme 2021–2027 will further boost investment, innovation and job creation by making EU funding simpler to access and more effective. 

Research shows that the strongest recent structural employment growth was recorded in the health and care sectors and in information and communication technologies. Both sectors have strong potential for continued job creation, along with green jobs, as highlighted in the Commission’s 2012 ‘Employment package’. 

The Commission has recognised the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to economic development and labour markets in the EU, and it supports SMEs through a variety of policies and instruments. In 2016, the European Parliament issued a resolution on how best to support the job creation potential of SMEs.

Eurofound’s work on job creation links in with the Commission’s 2019–2024 priority on an economy that works for people. 

 

European Industrial Relations Dictionary 

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 (108)
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The digital age: Implications of automation, digitisation and platforms for work and employment

Technological change is accelerating as the capacity of electronic devices to digitally store, process and communicate information expands. Digitalisation is transforming the EU economy and labour markets: nearly one-third of EU workplaces are categorised as highly digitalised. What are the

15 December 2021
Publication
Flagship report
New forms of employment
Platform work
Employment structure
Employment relationship
Employment and labour markets
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Digitalisation
Job creation
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Tools of trade: Supporting export businesses to improve their workplace practices

The economic and labour market contribution of international businesses is well recognised, but policymakers could do more to help such enterprises to develop their activities. This policy brief explores the workplace practices in export-oriented establishments that may contribute to their success

06 October 2021
Publication
Policy brief
Small and medium-sized enterprises
Participation at work
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Work organisation
European Pillar of Social Rights
Innovation
Job creation
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European Jobs Monitor 2019: Shifts in the employment structure at regional level

Accumulating evidence indicates that large metropolitan centres are faring much better than other regions within the Member States of the EU. Such interregional inequality contributes to disenchantment with existing political systems, which in turn can weaken the social bonds that ground democratic

07 October 2019
Publication
Research report
Employment structure
Employment and labour markets
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Industrial policy
Job creation
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Cooperatives and social enterprises: Work and employment in selected countries

Cooperatives and social enterprises are recognised for their resilience to cyclical and structural economic changes and their capacity to contribute to local and regional economic development, including social inclusion. In recent years, attention has increasingly focused on their ability to further

12 June 2019
Publication
Research report
Small and medium-sized enterprises
Employment and labour markets
Innovation
Job creation
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The future of manufacturing in Europe

The pilot project The Future of Manufacturing in Europe is an explorative and future-oriented study. It explores the future adoption of some key game-changing technologies and how this adoption can be promoted, even regionally. The analysis of implications for working life focuses primarily on tasks

10 April 2019
Publication
Research report
Restructuring
Employment structure
European Green Deal
Employment and labour markets
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Industrial policy
Job creation

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

Trade scenario: Employment implications in Europe of a large increase in global tariffs

Protectionism is on the rise. This scenario estimates the potential impact of a significant increase in tariffs in the world’s major trading blocs. The analysis is carried out using the E3ME macroeconometric model, which provides information on sectoral impacts, together with the Warwick Labour

14 March 2019
Publication
Research report
Structural change
Employment structure
Industrial policy
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
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

Energy scenario: Employment implications of the Paris Climate Agreement

This report explores the potential employment and economic impacts of an EU transition to a low-carbon economy by 2030 – on the EU, and on other regions of the world. It analyses the impacts across sectors and occupations, with a particular focus on manufacturing.The report highlights that the

12 February 2019
Publication
Research report
Structural change
Employment structure
European Green Deal
Employment and labour markets
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Just transition
Industrial policy
Job creation

Estimating labour market slack in the European Union

Labour market slack is the shortfall between the volume of work desired by workers and the actual volume of work available. The most important indicator of labour slack is the unemployment rate, but an exclusive focus on this fails to take account of the four-fifths of the jobless population who are

18 July 2017
Publication
Research report
Social protection
Unemployment
Inclusive labour markets
Employment status
Labour market policies
Job creation
Employment and labour markets
Online resources results (44)

New job creation pushes unemployment below 10%

Since early July 1997, exceptionally strong employment growth has pushed down the unemployment rate in France, which fell below 10% in April 2000. A return to full employment is now a real possibility, but raises the issue of "hard-core" unemployment. In spite of the fact that unemployment remains

27 July 2000
Article
Job creation
Non-standard employment
Labour law
Working time
Employment and labour markets

Collective bargaining in 1999 assessed

In mid-2000, the Spanish social partners issued their assessments of collective bargaining in 1999. The trade unions feel that progress has been made in job creation and shorter working hours, but not in maintaining workers' purchasing power or in trade union participation. The employers feel that

27 June 2000
Article
Collective bargaining
Pay and income
Working time
Job creation
Non-standard employment
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Report allays fears over impact of eastwards enlargement

On 21 May 2000 the findings of a report entitled The impact of eastern enlargement on employment and wages in the EU Member States [1] were presented by the European Commission. The research, which was carried out on behalf of the Commission, attempts to address a number of concerns voiced by the

27 June 2000
Article
Migration and mobility
Labour market policies
Job creation
Pay and income
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Social policies
Working conditions and sustainable work

Trade unions criticise NAP

In May 2000, at the request of the Greek government, the GSEE trade union confederation issued its position on the 2000 National Action Plan (NAP) for employment, in response to the EU Employment Guidelines. GSEE's critical observations on the NAP are consistent with the position it has taken

27 June 2000
Article
Working time
Job creation
Skills and training
Employment and labour markets

Employers demand new labour market policy

In January 2000, the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände, BDA) presented a paper in which it calls for fundamental reforms in labour market policy. These proposals are embedded in a fundamental criticism of the current economy policy

27 February 2000
Article
Social partners
Labour market policies
Social protection
Job creation
Employment and labour markets

Industrial unrest linked to introduction of 35-hour week

December 1999 saw the final adoption of France's second law on the 35-hour week. The debate over the legislation and its implementation, along with concerns over employment, have prompted a major wave of industrial action affecting many areas of both the private and public sectors.

27 December 1999
Article
Working time
Industrial action
Job creation
Employment and labour markets

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

Social partners react to 1999 NAP

In May 1999, France's National Action Plan (NAP) for employment for 1999, based on the EU Employment Guidelines, was presented to the social partners during a session of the Committee for Social Dialogue on European and International Issues. Trade unions and employers' organisations gave their

27 June 1999
Article
Job creation
Gender equality
Skills and training
Employment and labour markets

First 35-hour week law evaluated and second law outlined

In May 1999, France's Ministry for Employment and Solidarity published an initial progress report on the 1998 law on the 35-hour working week, aimed at fueling discussions on the second law on the issue, which is to be voted on by the end of 1999. On 21 June, Martine Aubry, the Minister concerned

27 June 1999
Article
Working time
Job creation
Pay and income
Social partners
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Working conditions and sustainable work

The rise of regional employment alliances

In the 1990s, Germany has witnessed the emergence of employment alliances and pacts at all levels in order to avoid redundancies, and sometimes even to create new jobs (TN9710201S [1]). These have ranged from national, regional or sectoral tripartite or bipartite employment alliances and pacts, to

27 May 1999
Article
Job creation
Social dialogue
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations and social dialogue
Blogs results (6)
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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 future of manufacturing – is it in Europe?

Over the past four years a special project delegated to Eurofound has looked in detail at ongoing changes in manufacturing on a global scale, analysed how the industry will change further in the future, and assessed what the impacts will be for Europe. Looking at everything from changes in tasks for

9 April 2019
Donald Storrie
Blog
Employment structure
Industrial policy
Job creation
Employment and labour markets
Restructuring
The many faces of self-employment In Europe

The many faces of self-employment in Europe

While the Europe 2020 strategy actively promotes entrepreneurial self-employment as a means to create good jobs, policy makers at national and EU level are actively looking at better social protection for self-employed workers. Understanding this paradox requires looking beyond the ‘self-employed’

26 October 2017
Mathijn Wilkens
Blog
Inequality
Job creation
Non-standard employment
Working conditions and sustainable work
New-generation cars boost manufacturing employment

New-generation cars boost manufacturing employment

Rising levels of employment in manufacturing in the EU since 2013 have seen the part reversal of a long-term decline in employment in this sector. Data from the European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) database to early September 2017 show that, for the first time since 2005, the number of new

25 October 2017
John Hurley
Blog
Job creation
Employment and labour markets
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
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Employment shifts in Europe during the recovery: three little noticed trends

The EU has finally recovered all the net employment losses sustained since the global financial crisis. It has been a long and painful process. But there is at last growing evidence of positive momentum in EU labour markets, if not quite ‘animal spirits’. Many of those member states most affected by

26 July 2017
John Hurley
Blog
Employment structure
Gender equality
Job creation
Employment and labour markets
Non-standard employment
Upcoming publications results (1)

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
Data results (2)

European Company Survey

24 October 2023
Reference period:
2019

European Jobs Monitor

20 September 2023

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.