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  • Minimum wages rise across Europe as inflation eases

    A new Eurofound report, Minimum wages in 2026: Annual review, finds that national minimum wages continued to rise across Europe in 2026, with the largest increases again recorded in central and eastern Europe. Minimum wage earners also gained purchasing power in virtually all Member States in 2026, as lower inflation in January 2026 more than offset increases in nominal minimum wages.

  • EU set to miss ICT employment targets as hiring of non-EU talent intensifies

    Europe is set to fall 5 million jobs short of its 2030 Digital Decade target of having 20 million information and communications technology (ICT) specialists in employment in the EU by 2030, despite employment in the sector growing fast – with an annual growth rate of 7-8% compared with an overall employment growth rate of just over 1%.

  • One in five jobs in the EU classified as vulnerable

    Close to one in five jobs in the EU (19%) could be classified as vulnerable – a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing income inadequacy, employment insecurity and lack of workplace rights.

  • Eurofound Talks: Are Europeans prepared for climate change?

    Increasing regional disparities, a growing affordability crisis, and a lack of agency for renters are leaving a significant portion of the European population dangerously exposed to climate change, as highlighted in the latest episode of Eurofound Talks.

  • New technologies reshaping work, not destroying jobs

    Technology is more likely to create new tasks than remove existing ones, according to new findings from the unique pan-European Working Conditions Survey. Rather than widespread destruction, the primary challenges facing the EU workforce as digitalisation transforms the European labour market, are shifting towards skills mismatches, generational divides, and worker autonomy.

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📣 NEW TOPIC PAGE: Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence has become a major policy priority for the EU as part of the digital transition and broader efforts to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and social resilience. Eurofound examines the implications of AI across its four research areas: 👷 Working conditions and sustainable work 💼 Employment and labour markets 🤝 Industrial relations and social dialogue 🌍 Living conditions and quality of life Building on its long-standing work on digitalisation, automation and platform work, Eurofound research investigates how AI is transforming work, employment and society, with the aim of informing evidence-based policymaking.

Today the European Commission launches the Fair Labour Mobility Package 🚀 Moving to work in another EU country should not mean losing your social rights, facing unnecessary paperwork or seeing your skills undervalued. At the same time, labour mobility should not create unfair competition for those who stay in their home countries. The package will: 📱 make social security documents digital and easier to verify 📜 make skills and qualifications easier to understand and recognise across borders 🤝 strengthen enforcement and cooperation to protect workers and fair businesses Whether you move or stay, fair labour mobility should work for everyone. Swipe to see how it will benefit citizens, businesses and public administrations. 👇

📣 Just published: Minimum wages in 2026: Annual review More than one year after the deadline for the transposition of the EU directive on adequate minimum wages has passed, this year’s annual review continue to take stock of what progress Member States have made in the meantime. The report presents the latest developments around national and collectively agreed minima and quantify the amount of minimum wage earners across EU27 countries and the material situation they find themselves in.

📣 SAVE THE DATE The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Eurofound are organising a conference entitled 'Beyond Affordable Housing: Structural Solutions to Europe’s Housing Crisis'. The conference will bring together representatives from EU institutions, national, regional and local authorities, social partners, civil society organisations and academia to discuss concrete policy responses to Europe's housing crisis. 📍Loughlinstown, Dublin 📅 9:30-16:00, 10 November 2026 Registrations will open in September.

📣 Just published: Working anytime, anywhere: The quality of working time in the EU Since 2015, the take-up of flexible working arrangements, accelerated by the pandemic and digitalisation, has increased significantly, with one in five EU workers engaged in telework or having working time autonomy in 2024. Overall, flexible working is associated with improved working time quality and a better work–life balance. However, risks persist, notably irregular schedules, high workloads and work-related contact outside working hours, which strongly undermine health and work–life balance.

#TES2026 During our 3-day Tripartite Exchange Seminar, we had the opportunity to speak with Guillaume Afellat, Head of Social Affairs at SGI Europe, about the impact of the AI on workers' and the role of social partners in ensuring a fair transition. 💬 It is crucial to include AI in discussions not only about digitalisation and new technologies, but also about health and safety, and education and training. Each new wave of technology brings different challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed.

Over the past year, national minimum wages continued to rise substantially across the EU, especially in central and eastern European countries, continuing the narrowing of regional disparities. The EU Minimum Wage Directive has emerged as a significant driver of minimum wage hikes in many countries, which have exceeded inflation levels and increased faster than collectively agreed wage floors in many low-paid sectors. The rate of change between January 2025 and January 2026 was largest in central and eastern European countries: 🔹Slovenia (16%); 🔹Bulgaria, Slovakia, Lithuania and Hungary (11–12%); 🔹Croatia and Czechia (around 8%); 🔹Romania (7%, adopted in July 2026). The hikes were more moderate in most western European countries: only Germany, Greece and Portugal registered increases above 5%.

#EurofoundTalks: Employment and working conditions of the most vulnerable workers Over the past two decades, European labour markets have undergone significant transformation, with a marked rise in non-standard forms of employment such as part-time and temporary work. While these arrangements can offer flexibility, they can also lead to situations of vulnerability, especially when they are involuntary or when multiple disadvantages combine. 🎧 In the latest episode of #EurofoundTalks, Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound expert Karel Fric to explore the employment and working conditions of the most vulnerable workers, looking at how vulnerability is defined, who is most affected, and how this challenge is evolving across Europe. Listen on Spotify or through our website 😉

🇪🇺 How can Europe strengthen social inclusion and ensure that no one is left behind? During her visit to Eurofound, @roxana.minzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, discussed the European Commission's key priorities for the Irish Presidency: social inclusion, skills, quality jobs and the fight against poverty. 🤝 Together, we explored how Eurofound's evidence-based research on living and working conditions across Europe can support informed policymaking, including through initiatives such as the EU Inter-Agency Data Sharing Platform, which will help bring together knowledge and expertise from across the EU agency network.

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