Eurofound News

Job Quality Improves in Europe, But Gender Gaps Remain

Eurofound's European Working Conditions Survey 2024 draws on 36,644 in-depth interviews across 35 countries to assess job quality trends. The share of employees working more than 48 hours per week has declined from 19% to 11% since 2005, while 85% of workers feel fairly treated and 80% report being in good health. However, the Social Environment index has deteriorated for women since 2010, and 29% of workers remain unaware of workplace measures to combat occupational stress. The survey findings underscore persistent gender, generational, and sectoral divides in working conditions across Europe.

Eurofound Talks: Europeans Face Climate Change, Affordability Crisis, Renters Exposed

Eurofound published a new Eurofound Talks podcast episode on April 22, 2026, featuring a discussion with EEA's Aleksandra Kazmierczak and Eurofound's Marianna Baggio on the joint report 'Overheated and underprepared: Europeans' experience of living with climate change.' The survey of 27,000 respondents found that 80% of Europeans have felt the impact of extreme weather, while 38% overall report being unable to afford to keep their homes cool—a figure rising to two-thirds for those already struggling financially. The discussion highlighted regional disparities, a lack of agency for renters, and the need for collective policy action including progressive grants, updated building rules, and urban greening.

New Technologies Reshaping Work, Not Destroying Jobs

Eurofound published findings from the European Working Conditions Survey 2024, based on 36,644 face-to-face interviews across 35 countries, revealing that technology is more likely to create new tasks than remove existing ones. The survey found that 40% of EU workers use online meeting tools, 35% use electronic collaboration platforms, and 12% use generative AI tools as of 2024. Challenges emerging from digitalisation include skills mismatches, generational divides, and reduced worker autonomy, with 30% of workers believing they are overskilled for their roles and concerns rising about algorithmic management reducing worker agency.