Eurofound Talks

Since its launch in 1990, the European Working Conditions Survey has provided a comprehensive overview of working conditions in Europe. The EWCS 2024 asserts that the European labour market is in transition, pointing to a decline in long working hours and uneven improvements in job quality. It indicates that the EU workforce remains resilient amid profound geopolitical and technological change - bolstered by women and migrants - yet deep gender and sector divides persist. However, how can we be assured that these findings are accurate? All too frequently, large-scale changes in the labour market, from 'quiet quitting' to AI job destruction, capture headlines but the reality is often more nuanced.
In this episode of Eurofound Talks, Mary McCaughey invites Senior Research Manager Agnès Parent-Thirion to talk about the European Working Conditions Survey behind the headlines, and the work that goes into carrying it out.

As the climate crisis intensifies, is Europe ready for the heat? In this episode of Eurofound Talks, Mary McCaughey explores the renter’s trap and the growing affordability crisis with experts from the EEA and Eurofound.
Despite 80% of Europeans feeling the impact of extreme weather, a staggering 38% cannot afford to keep their homes cool. From the risk of "renovictions" to regional disparities in preparedness, the discussion bridges the gap between EU green ambitions and the stark reality of households.
Discover why individual awareness isn't enough and what collective policy actions are needed to protect the vulnerable.

The European Union is navigating a period of profoundtransformation - from the cost‑of‑living crisis to the green and digital transitions, demographic shifts, and geopolitical uncertainty.

At the heart of the EU’s response to these challenges standsthe Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament. With 60 Members, the Committee plays a central role in ensuring fair working conditions, strong social protection, and equal opportunities across the Union.
In this episode of Eurofound Talks, Mary McCaughey is joinedby Li Andersson, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, to discuss how we can address these issues and continue improving living and working conditions for Europe's citizens.

In a special video recorded for International Women's Day at the European Parliament’s VoxBox Studios, Maria Walsh MEP and Eurofound’s Barbara Gerstenberger analyse key gender equality findings from the European Working Conditions Survey.

Their conversation highlights how women have been impacted by significant shifts in the workplace, particularly regarding modern challenges like burnout and technostress.

In this episode Mary McCaughey is joined by senior researcher Eszter Sandor to discuss the results of the 2025 Living and Working in the EU e-survey.

While headline inflation has stabilised at 2.1%, the survey data reveal a continent gripped by chronic precariousness, with 57% of Europeans now at risk of depression and a widening resilience gap between low-income households and those that are better off.

As policymakers, social partners and civil society prepare for the European Employment and Social Rights Forum in Brussels on 3-4 March, Eszter and Mary look at the actions that could be taken to respond to rising social challenges.