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Anticipating and managing the impact of change Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Industrial relations and social dialogue Industrial relations and social dialogue
Employment and labour markets Employment and labour markets
Promoting social cohesion and convergence Promoting social cohesion and convergence
Living conditions and quality of life Living conditions and quality of life
Working conditions and sustainable work Working conditions and sustainable work
Eurofound corporate Eurofound corporate
COVID-19 COVID-19
FOME FOME
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Does Europe have the skills it needs for a changing economy?

Eurofound has just published a new episode of the Eurofound Talks podcast on skills in Europe. In the episode Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound Research Manager Tina Weber, Eurofound Senior Research Manager Gijs van Houten, and Giovanni Russo, Senior Expert at CEDEFOP – the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training.

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Job insecurity undermines democracy

Workers on non-permanent contracts and workers with no formal contract are less satisfied with the functioning of democracy in their country, as are workers experiencing job insecurity.

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Investment in social services underpinned resilience of European societies during COVID-19

The EU’s financial commitment to social issues - with government spending on social services such as social protection, education and health claiming a significant 35% of GDP in 2020 - underpinned its resilience to the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Europe embracing green transition but large inequalities persist

While some environmental indicators have improved across the EU, there are large inequalities between people at different income levels in Europe, with low-income populations drastically worse off in terms of the quality of their neighbourhood and housing.

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Rising temperatures pose serious risks to workers’ health

Extreme temperatures in southern Europe have impacted workers’ health and resulted in industrial action in some EU Member States. Eurofound’s research shows that, already in 2015, 23% of workers in the EU were exposed to high temperatures during at least a quarter of their working time.

Recent losses in real minimum wages have not eroded long-term gains in purchasing power

Recent losses in real minimum wages have not eroded long-term gains in purchasing power


While losses in real minimum wages have occurred in several countries across the European Union, these have not eroded the long-term gains of purchasing power that have occurred across the EU since 2013. In an effort to offset inflation, governments have significantly increased nominal minimum wages across Europe. In 2023, the median nominal increase was almost 11%, compared with just 5% in 2

Exploring the socio-economic impacts of the transition to a climate-neutral economy

Exploring the socio-economic impacts of the transition to a climate-neutral economy

The move to a climate-neutral economy doesn't only represent risks and costs, but it has the potential to create exciting new opportunities with net employment gains, new business sectors and a healthier environment. Eurofound and the EEA have brought together EU level and regional experts and stakeholders to explore what these socioeconomic impacts could be and how policy could respond.

Europe must focus on preventative measures when dealing with housing crisis

Europe must focus on preventative measures when dealing with housing crisis

Focusing on prevention, and the strategic application of social support at the right time, is an important aspect of reducing evictions and ensuring citizens have affordable housing options in Europe.

(c) Eurofound 2023, Seventyfour

Practical barriers hinder job opportunities for people fleeing Ukraine

People fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can seek jobs in Europe but not knowing the host country’s language and temporary job placements are just some of practical barriers identified in a new research paper from Eurofound and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).

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Homeownership declines across EU as young adults find themselves locked out of market

Between 2012 and 2020, overall homeownership decreased across the EU, with decreases of more than 3 percentage points in Denmark, Cyprus, Spain, Lithuania, Finland and Bulgaria. This decrease was driven by declining ownership among young people and low-income groups.

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Platform work can provide women with vital link to the labour market

The growth of platform work has highlighted its potential for those that require more flexible work arrangements but has also raised concerns about working conditions and exposing the vulnerability of platform workers with respect to access to safe working environments and social protection.

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Europe's employment rebounds amid existential rethink

Eurofound's Living and working in Europe Yearbook 2022 looks at the major trends in employment, social dialogue, working conditions, living conditions and quality of life in an important year for Europe, which saw the beginning of Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, and the fallout for Europe and its citizens, including a cost-of-living crisis felt throughout the continent.

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Eurofound, a tripartite European Union Agency, provides knowledge to assist in the development of social, employment and work-related policies

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.

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