Good news on job quality for expanding European workforce - but survey highlights deep gender, generational and sectoral divides

Job quality in Europe is improving, with long working hours and physically arduous working conditions on the decline. The share of employees working more than 48 hours per week has fallen from 19% to 11% since 2005. However, inequalities at the workplace persist, with women experiencing a deteriorating social environment at work.

These are some of the results from the unique pan- European Working Conditions Survey 2024, published today, which provides a comprehensive overview of working life in Europe. The findings are based on 36,644 in-depth, face-to-face interviews conducted across 35 countries, each lasting approximately 45 minutes. The survey examines seven dimensions of job quality, ranging from the physical environment to earnings and prospects, offering policymakers a unique evidence-based deep dive into the state of work in Europe.

Europe’s workforce continues to expand due largely to increased participation from women, workers approaching retirement, and migrant populations highlighting its resilience against a backdrop of demographic change : the number of employees aged 55 or older in the EU rose from 23.8 million in 2010 to nearly 40 million in 2023; female employment also surged with women accounting for approximately two-thirds of all net new jobs created in the EU over the last two decades; and since 2010, approximately 45% of net new employment in the EU has also been driven by non-EU nationals.

The findings underscore that high quality jobs are critical to the EU’s competitiveness. A motivated and engaged workforce is essential to boost productivity and support longer working lives. The good news is that 85% of workers feel fairly treated, while more than 80% believe their work useful and overall, 80% of the workforce reports being in good health.

Yet, the data show that the Social Environment index has deteriorated for women since 2010 and 18% still face health issues that limit their daily activities. And while exposure to most physical risks has declined,new challenges are emerging. There is increased exposure to high temperatures and infectious materials and psychosocial pressures are increasingly replacing the physical hazards of arduous labour. Some 29% of workers, however, remain unaware of workplace measures to combat the growing burden of occupational stress.

The report concludes that to maintain this social contract policies will need to go beyond headline employment figures. Addressing the specific vulnerabilities of workers in labour-shortage occupations and closing the persistent gender divide in management remains unfinished business.

Speaking about the findings, Eurofound Executive Director Ivailo Kalfin noted the broader implications of these changes to the world of work for Europe’s economic and social agenda: ‘If Europe is to navigate the twin green and digital transitions successfully, and sustain economic and social progress, it must ensure that its workers feel informed, supported and valued. This research underscores the importance of job quality, not just for individual workers, but also for Europe’s social model.’

• Download the full Overview Report: European Working Conditions Survey 2024