Employment grew by 19% in capital city regions in the EU’s largest Member States between 2002 and 2017, compared to 10-12% in other domestic regions. This employment growth has been reflected in the growing national economic weight of capital regions, with cities such as London, Paris and Stockholm accounting for 30% and more of the GDP of their respective countries.
Workers in Member States that joined the EU after May 2004 were expected to work close to three full working weeks per year more than those in ‘older’ Member States in 2018.
Germany this week celebrates 29 years since reunification, and next month will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. To mark this significant time, we share our research data, findings and analysis to provide a snapshot of Germany’s living and working conditions.
With a new European Parliament in place, and a new Commission imminent, it's all change at European level. Eurofound's upcoming research for the rest of 2019 reflects both established priorities under its work programme, as well as ongoing developments in work and life in Europe.
Strong upward convergence in employment and socioeconomic conditions has emerged between EU Member States over the past 20 years despite the negative effects of the economic crisis, according to new research from Eurofound.
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.
As Malta celebrates its Independence Day, we mark the day by sharing our research data, findings and analysis to provide a snapshot of living and working conditions in Malta today. Eurofound has been monitoring and reporting on the improvement of living and working conditions in Malta, in comparison to the other EU Member States, since before accession to the EU.
As Slovakia tomorrow celebrates Slovak National Uprising Day, we mark the day by shining a spotlight on the ever-improving living and working conditions in Slovakia.
The latest Annual Review of minimum wages in Europe shows that there have been increases to the minimum wage across almost all Member States, in both nominal and real terms. The report also highlights that women are over-represented among minimum and low-wage earners.
La última revisión anual de los salarios mínimos en Europa muestra que se han producido aumentos significativos en los salarios mínimos de varios Estados miembros de la UE, tanto en términos nominales como reales.
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.
The votes have been cast, tallied and declared and we can now see the political landscape of the new European Parliament. To what extent have mixed developments in employment and quality of life contributed to the more fractured political landscape? And can the EU continue to deliver to the more diverse demands of citizens across Europe?
As citizens across the EU prepare to cast their vote in the European elections, the latest Living and working in Europe report from Eurofound looks at how work and life has changed in the EU since 2015.
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.
Imagine you’re at work and something happens: you have to leave to visit a client, you have to go home to let in the plumber, or you have to collect the kids from school as the football training has just been cancelled. If you’re lucky, your employer gives you the flexibility to do this. If you’re even luckier, it is YOU who decides upon your schedule and place of work.
Despite differences in economic structure, labour markets and development, a pioneering study of the working conditions and job quality of 1.2 billion workers finds common concerns and challenges across 41 countries and four continents, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization and Eurofound.
Large scale restructuring involving job loss is usually well-documented, and there is rightly a focus on what options there are for those who have lost their jobs. But what impact does all this have on those that are left behind?
Seniority entitlements have largely been on the decline since the 1990s, and have been gradually phased-out from legislation in Europe, as well as in collective agreements. However, it would be premature to dismiss seniority-based entitlements as a thing of the past, as they remain in force across Europe, even if the more expansive term of ‘relevant experience’ is preferred.
Motivated workers have higher levels of engagement, better health and are able to work longer. Improving motivation at work is therefore a key component in meeting the challenges of Europe’s ageing workforce and improving the EU’s long-term competitiveness on a global scale. This means that fostering motivation at work isn’t just about personal or business success, it's about Europe’s success.
On 26 May 1975 the Council passed Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 on the creation of a new Agency that would aim to contribute to the planning and establishment of better living and working conditions. Now, almost 44 years later, the Founding Regulation of Eurofound gets a 21st Century update.
