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Potential of platform work may depend on greater protection of workers

Potential of platform work may depend on greater protection of workers

Platform work across the European Union can facilitate better access to the labour market for disadvantaged groups, encourage participation among those with other responsibilities and foster self-employment and entrepreneurship. Eurofound’s new policy brief highlights the main opportunities and challenges of platform work and illustrates some of the first attempts at addressing them.

This graph shows the incidence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms for women and men in the EU aged 15-24

Ireland has highest incidence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms among young women in EU

This graph, based on Eurostat data, shows that gender is an important factor in depression. In most Member States young women aged 15–24 were more likely to suffer from depression than young men. The greatest gender gaps were in Denmark, Germany, Ireland and Sweden. Only in Cyprus, Greece and Lithuania were there higher percentages of young men with depressive symptoms.

Young women are significantly more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms than young men. Image: Yulia Grigoreva/Shutterstock

Crisis point: Well-being of young people still defined by the economic crisis

Across the EU, 14% of young adults are at risk of depression, and 4% of young people aged 15-24 suffer from chronic depression. Young women are more likely to find themselves not in employment, education or training, and are significantly more likely to suffer depressive symptoms than young men

 Wind in their sails? At the time of Eurofound’s latest EQLS, there was high optimism for the future in most EU candidate countries.  Photo: Nebojsa Markovic/Shutterstock

EU on the horizon? Eurofound explores quality of life in the candidate countries

There are high levels of optimism for the future in most EU candidate countries – including for future generations. However, current material hardships, deprivation, urban-rural disparities, gender inequalities and demographic ageing are fundamental challenges, and could undermine the current positive climate and future social cohesion.

Photo: Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock

Les salaires minima ont augmenté dans toute l'Europe, mais les travailleurs à bas salaires sentiront ils la différence ?

La plupart des États membres de l'UE ont enregistré des hausses de salaires pour les bénéficiaires de salaire minimum et les bas salaires, les salaires minimums et les bas salaires ont en effet progressé dans la plupart d'entre eux, du fait de l’augmentation des salaires minima légaux qui ont augmenté dans presque tous les pays depuis janvier 2018.

Image: Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock

Minimum wages have increased across Europe, but will low-wage workers feel the difference?

There have been wage increases for minimum and low-wage earners in most EU Member States, with rises in statutory minimum wages in almost all countries since January 2018. While these increases are welcomed as good news for minimum wage workers, Eurofound’s research shows workers may not automatically feel the positive impacts of these changes.

Image © Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock

Workers in Europe in good health, but emotional demands take their toll

People at work in Europe report good health and well-being, and increased control over their work activities. However, Eurofound data shows that work is also becoming more emotionally demanding, which poses a risk to health, as well as the long-term sustainability of work itself.

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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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