Eurofound has launched its 2024 European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) aiming to interview approximately 50,000 workers across 35 countries. Eurofound has been tracking progress in working conditions via the EWCS for over 30 years.
While the prospects for minimum wage workers in early 2023 looked gloomy – with rates in many EU Member States struggling to offset rising prices – the new year brings better news. National minimum wages were raised significantly in most countries, both in nominal and real terms, and also when examined in the context of the entire period since 2022, when inflation rates started to surge.
The latest episode of Eurofound Talks, recorded shortly before Eurofound publishes its harmonised analysis of 2024 minimum wage developments, looks at the changes to minimum wages in Europe in 2023.
During the year, Eurofound has continued to provide you with research findings and data on issues ranging from hybrid work, teleworking and the right to disconnect, and platform work, to care and healthcare, gender equality, minimum wages, persistent labour market imbalances, and growing inequalities, among others.
Eurofound's 2024 work programme was approved and adopted during its annual Management Board meeting held in Dublin on 17 November. The Management Board also endorsed the Multiannual Research Programme 2025-2028. It was the first meeting for almost one third new members of the Management Board, representing governments and social partners in all EU27 Member States.
Over 80% of workers in a Eurofound-commissioned survey of employees in Belgium, France, Italy and Spain report receiving work-related communications outside their contractual working hours during a typical working week.
How to address this skills gap in Ireland was at the centre of a ‘Skills for Jobs’ seminar and panel discussion organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland and Eurofound, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, which took place at Europe House in Dublin today.
In the latest episode of Eurofound Talks Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound Senior Research Manager John Hurley about new research which shows a marginal increase in net employment from EU decarbonisation measures, but also potentially broad shifts in the labour market that could have a profound impact in several areas.
Workers in Member States that joined the European Union after 2004 have, on average, longer normal annual working time. Workers in these countries also generally have a lower amount of statutory minimum days of leave.
Eurofound projects that the EU’s commitments to achieve a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990 levels by 2030 (‘Fit for 55’) will be marginally positive for employment in the EU, with a net creation of 204,000 jobs.
The jury is still out on the question whether men and women are from distinct planets. When it comes to the world of work, however, the evidence shows that they are worlds apart.
The working conditions of Europe’s essential workers is the focus of the new episode of the Eurofound Talks podcast.
Eurofound (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions) is a tripartite EU body, whose mission is to provide knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies.
