Younger Europeans are likely to have fewer opportunities for upward social mobility than preceding generations. Social mobility in Europe seems to have stagnated - at least in some countries - with opportunities for upward social mobility only increasing in a minority of EU countries for all age groups; in some Member States there is even evidence of decline in social mobility
The European Commission has launched a public consultation in the context of the evaluation of the four EU agencies under the remit of DG Employment: Eurofound; the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop); the European Training Foundation (ETF); and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).
The European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) 2016 report 'Globalisation slowdown? Recent evidence of offshoring and reshoring in Europe' is available to order for free via the EU Bookshop. Go to http://bit.ly/ERMBookshop
The chart above, based on data from the third EQLS, shows the percentage of people who strongly agreed with the statement ‘I am optimistic about the future’ in 2012.
The annual meeting of Eurofound’s correspondents – in the fourth and final year of the current contract – will take place in Dublin on 27–28 March. Guest speaker Raymond Maes, Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission’s DG Employment, will outline the EU priorities for the coming period.
Eurofound is in the process of drawing up a list of academic experts to cover the research areas of its 2017–2020 programme. Experts may be asked to advise on planned research approaches and methodologies or to carry out peer reviews.
Developments in the field of employment and social affairs announced in the European Commission’s work programme for 2017 include initiatives to address the challenges of work–life balance faced by working families, a European Pillar of Social Rights aimed at fostering a fair playing field in the European social market economy, and a White Paper on the Future of Europe.
Eurofound hosted a delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs in Dublin on 20–21 February. The delegation included Jean Lambert MEP (Greens/EFA), Joëlle Mélin MEP (ENF), Laura Agea MEP (EFDD), Javi López MEP (S&D), and Lynn Boylan MEP (GUE/ NGL).
The social partners across Europe are not participating in the European Semester as was originally envisaged, even after the 2015 revamp of the process that aimed to encourage their greater involvement in the drafting of the national reform programmes (NRPs).
Income inequalities have increased between and within Member States, largely due to growing unemployment levels during the economic crisis.
25 March marks 60 years since the signing of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, known as the Treaty of Rome. A seminal document, largely dedicated to economic integration and prosperity, it also enshrined the broader concepts of peace and equality
In this blog piece, originally posted on Social Europe, Eurofound researchers Carlos Vacas-Soriano and Enrique-Fernández-Macías look at the development of income inequalities in Europe since the Great Recession.
Income inequalities have increased in around two-thirds of EU Member States largely due to growing unemployment levels since the onset of the crisis. At the same time EU-wide income inequality also increased as income convergence between European countries stalled.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, Eurofound Senior Research Manager Massimiliano Mascherini looks at the impact of the gender employment gap on Europe.
8 March is International Women’s Day. The day marks the wide-scale progress made towards achieving gender equality and combating gender-based injustice, but also serves as an important impetus to ensure the spotlight remains on continued work towards realising these goals across the globe.
The growth in average (nominal) pay of employees has accelerated in recent years in EU countries after a slump following the economic crisis (AMECO data). Similar developments show up in data on collectively agreed wages. However, higher wage growth figures do not automatically mean that all employees benefit equally
The expanding use of digital technologies such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers for work for home and elsewhere is rapidly transforming the traditional model of work. It can improve work-life balance, reduce commuting time, and boost productivity, but it can also potentially result in longer working hours, higher work intensity and work-home interference.
The growth in the level of minimum wages accelerated in the period between January 2016 and January 2017, with the largest increases in newer EU Member States. This continues a trend of slow convergence between minimum wage levels in Europe - however there is still a long way to go, with minimum wage workers in Luxembourg making eight and a half times as much as minimum wage workers in Bulgaria. T
Dr Erika Mezger, Eurofound's Deputy Director, outlines that European Working Conditions Survey EWCS says about working conditions among German workers and how they compare to those of the rest of Europe.
Our new publication Delivering hospital services: A greater role for the private sector? examines the role and contribution of the private provision of hospital services in the European Union. The report maps the extent of private provision across Europe, examines the drivers for increased private provision, describes how it takes place and presents the views of different stakeholders.
