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Topics: Social issues

  • Europe’s slow-burning issue – making work sustainable

    Making work sustainable is not simply a challenge for politicians and policymakers in the European Union: it is a fundamental issue that underpins the future of the world of work in Europe. It goes beyond the mantra of raising employment rates and deals with productivity and innovation – and the everyday lives of workers throughout the EU.

  • Publication alert: Approaches to the labour market integration of refugees and asylum seekers

    Eurofound’s new report takes forward existing research on the labour market integration of refugees (those with the officially recognised status of international protection) and asylum seekers (those who have applied for international protection and are awaiting a decision). The report provides updated information on legislation and practical arrangements in the first half of 2016, examines labour

  • Sixth EWCS report launched in Brussels

    On 17 November, Eurofound launched the overview report of its sixth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) at a day-long conference in the European Parliament.
    Since 1991, Eurofound has been using the survey to monitor working conditions in Europe. The report explores the findings of interviews with almost 44,000 workers in 35 European countries. It analyses the data using seven dimensions o

  • Jobs, Jobs, Jobs! Three Beautiful Words For Mr Trump

    And even in the confused and contentious context of the new US President-elect as well as the EU’s post- Brexit deliberations, it is hard to argue otherwise.
    But, while having a job in the first place is clearly of paramount importance to people - and society at large – there is also a more sophisticated issue at play with wider ramifications for the world of work and life today: the quality of

  • The gender employment gap – an issue that affects us all

    In the following blog piece Eurofound Director Juan Menéndez-Valdés looks at the issue of the gender employment gap in Europe, and how the difference in labour market participation between women and men has far-reaching implications.

  • Il nuovo rapporto di Eurofound - The Gender Employment Gap: Challenges and solutions

    Il nuovo rapporto di Eurofound – "Gender Employment Gap: challenges and solutions” è stato presentato al Parlamento Europeo martedì 11 Ottobre 2016.
    Nonostante il tasso di occupazione femminile sia aumentato durante la crisi economica, la divergenza nell’occupazione tra uomini e donne in Europa e nella maggior parte dei paeasi membri è ancora significativa. A questo proposito, il rapporto si co

  • Gender employment gap costs Europe €370 billion per year

    Our new report explores the main characteristics and consequences of gender gaps in labour market participation. It finds that the estimated cost of a lower female employment rate was €370 billion in 2013, corresponding to 2.8% of EU GDP. This does not include the unpaid domestic work performed by women who are not active in the labour market.

  • Publication alert - The gender employment gap: Challenges and solutions

    Eurofound's new publication The gender employment gap: Challenges and solutions will be presented to the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality tomorrow at 5.00 pm (CET), and will subsequently be available to download directly from our website. Watch the presentation live at http://bit.ly/FEMMComm.
    For further information please contact either our promotions team,

  • Charting the state of housing across the EU

    The prevalence of structural problems in dwellings in the EU varies considerably between Member States.
    On average, 12% of EU residents report damp or leaks in their walls and roofs; 9% live in accommodation with rot in the windows, doors or floors; and 14% of resident indicate that they cannot afford to keep their home adequately warm.
    Such problems are most common in Cyprus, where 51% of d

  • Finding win–win solutions to boost competitiveness

    Well-functioning social dialogue is a key component in implementing the reforms that will boost European competitiveness. A new report from Eurofound examines how management, employees and their representatives achieve common solutions to common problems. It identifies a number of elements of good practice, such as regular meetings between management and employees to follow up on decisions, contin

  • Combining work with partial retirement

    With people living longer and birth rates falling across Europe, a priority of EU policy is to encourage Europeans to remain in work beyond current retirement ages, to minimise pressure on pension systems.
    At present, older workers often leave the workforce before statutory retirement age, with health problems and care responsibilities cited as common reasons. Many more people simply wish to w

  • The true cost of poor housing

    The cost of people living in inadequate housing in the EU Member States is hitting economies to the tune of nearly €194 billion per year, a new report from Eurofound states. The cost of addressing the shortcomings of the housing stock would be in the region of €295 billion (at 2011 prices). However, the report maintains, the outlay could be quickly recouped from savings on healthcare and a range o

  • Measuring peoples’ perception of quality of life in Europe

    Eurofound launches the fieldwork for the fourth edition of its European Quality of Life Survey today. The survey, which offers a comprehensive picture of the views of people living across 33 countries including the EU Member States and candidate countries, will be carried out over the coming 13 weeks.
    The fourth edition of the European Quality of Life Survey covers 33 countries, 28 EU Member S

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