European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
labour market
Living in the EU: Work before the coronavirus crisis
This infographic offers a closer look at the labour market situation in 2019, referring to the EU population aged 15-64 (285 million people, of which 195 million were employed, 14 million were unemployed and 76 million inactive). Continue reading
A fresh look at the future of work in the EU
Economic and technical changes are redrawing the map of the world of work: new jobs are appearing while others are becoming obsolete, and atypical work patterns are replacing full-time work and open-ended contracts. Continue reading
Economic impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) [Policy Podcast]
Artificial intelligence plays an increasingly important role in our lives and economy and is already having an impact on our world in many different ways. Worldwide competition to reap its benefits is fierce, and global leaders – the US and Asia – have emerged on the scene. Continue reading
Students who want to learn coding [What Europe does for you]
We increasingly use digital products, services and connected devices. The digitalisation of society changes the way we communicate, work, shop and requires people to acquire new digital skills. Continue reading
Pregnant women at work [What Europe does for you]
Pregnancy is a special time when you need to take particular care of yourself and the baby inside you. If you are well, you may want to work right up until the day you give birth, in which case you can expect your working conditions to be adjusted to ensure your safety and that of your unborn child. Continue reading
Ensuring more transparent and predictable working conditions [EU Legislation in Progress]
An employer’s obligation to inform their employees on the conditions applicable to their contracts is regulated by Directive 91/533/EEC. Major shifts in the labour market due to demographic trends and digitalisation, spawning a growing number of non-standard employment relationships (such as part-time, temporary and on-demand work), have made it necessary to revise the directive. Continue reading
EPRS-OECD conference: policies can mitigate impact of jobs losses from automation
Technological and digital revolutions are reshaping labour markets across the world, with many jobs likely to disappear or to be significantly transformed over the next 15 years, as robots and computers learn to perform an increasing number of tasks, according to analysts speaking at a conference in the European Parliament. Continue reading
Young people not in education, employment or training (NEETS) [What Europe does for you]
With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for young people not in education, employment or training (NEETS). Continue reading
Freelancers [What Europe does for you]
With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for freelancers. Continue reading
The Platform Economy [What Think Tanks are thinking]
The digital revolution is reshaping the world, changing people’s habits in communication, work, leisure and politics. A major part of this revolution is the expansion of the economy based on digital platforms that match demand and supply for labour without an intermediation of traditional corporations. Continue reading
Posting of Workers Directive [EU Legislation in Progress]
Posting of workers plays an important role in the internal market, particularly in the cross-border provision of services. While the number of posted workers continues to increase significantly, problems such as unfair practices and unequal remuneration persist. Continue reading
EU labour markets [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Economic recovery has reduced the unemployment rate in the euro area and the wider European Union, but there are still significant challenges for EU labour markets. Continue reading
Creating opportunities: The EU and students [Policy Podcast]
Written by Ivana Katsarova, Over one third of the European Union (EU) population – some 170 million citizens – are aged under 30, with half that number under the age of 15 years. Although education policies in the EU are essentially decided and implemented by the individual EU countries, the EU provides sound evidence and analysis to … Continue reading
Revision of the Blue Card Directive [EU Legislation in Progress]
Attracting highly qualified immigrants to Europe has been one of the EU’s key priorities for several years. However, up until now the EU has not been as successful as other OECD countries. Continue reading
EU social policies [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, On 26 April, the European Commission presented a European Pillar of Social Rights, which is a package of legislative proposals and recommendations aimed at enhancing work-life balance, fostering equal opportunities and better access to the labour market, as well as improving working conditions. Under the proposal, for example, new fathers would … Continue reading
The future of work in the EU
Written by Monika Kiss, Economic and technical changes are redrawing the map of the world of work: new jobs are appearing while others are becoming obsolete, and atypical work patterns are replacing full-time work and open-ended contracts. In addition, work is increasingly being carried out on online platforms connecting buyers and sellers, or by large … Continue reading
Digital skills in the EU labour market
Written by Monika Kiss, Information and communications technologies (ICT) play an increasingly important role in our professional and private lives, and digital competence is of growing importance for every individual. In the future, nearly all jobs will require digital skills. However, European Commission figures show that two fifths of the EU workforce have little or … Continue reading
Technology and inequality: Can computers help or is it ‘all their fault’?
Written by Dr Mihalis Kritikos, On 11 October 2016, the European Parliament’s Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel will host a workshop, chaired by Panel member Georgi Pirinski (S&D, Bulgaria), to discuss the effects of new technologies on labour markets. The workshop will bring together policy-makers, experts from academia, industry representatives and NGOs to assess … Continue reading
Economic crisis: the right time for product and labour market reforms
Written by Cemal Karakas, How could the global, and in particular European, economy recover from the ongoing economic crisis? What kind of reforms should take place? What are the prospects for the European Union (EU) and its Member States? On 18 April 2016, the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) organised its first roundtable discussion with … Continue reading
Work and social welfare for asylum-seekers and refugees: selected EU Member States
Written by Eva-Maria Poptcheva and Andrej Stuchlik (with contributions from Piotr Bakowski, Alexandra Gatto, Detelin Ivanov, Ingeborg Odink, and Irene Peñas Dendariena) The surge of asylum-seekers to the EU has increased steadily, and reached record highs in recent years and months. Asylum-seekers risk their lives on dangerous journeys to Europe, which often do not stop at … Continue reading
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