Workers say working conditions are slowly improving

16 November 2010
by eurofound -- last modified 18 November 2010

Work intensity among European workers are still high, and it has not increased over the past five years, according to the first findings of the 5th European Working Conditions Survey, out today.

The survey also found that for most workers (67%), the pace of work is set by direct demands from people and working at high speed remains high. The extent to which workers can make their own decisions about how they do their job has not changed, leaving a large number of workers where they were earlier to deal with work's demands. Workers in the EU27 also remain as exposed to physical hazards, however, as they did 20 years ago. 

However, in 2010, training paid for by employers was at its highest level since 1995 (for the EU15), with 34% of workers receiving training in the last 12 months. This is a break in a 15-year trend in which employer-provided training had not increased. Around 60% of workers feel that they would be able to do their current job at the age of 60, a marginal increase since 2000. 

Ensuring quality of work and employment is a core element in achieving an economically dynamic and socially cohesive European Union. Examining how working conditions have changed, or remained the same, can shed light on what progress is being made towards these goals. The European Working Conditions Survey is the only survey available at European level that looks at work in many dimensions. This time, the survey was carried out to see how quality of work and employment is faring during the economic crisis. 'It is important that we know what is going on in the workplace, so that we can help policymakers design policies that are relevant and are tackling the real issues,' says Jorma Karppinen, Eurofound's Director. 

For most indicators of working time stability, the figures have remained the same since 2000, with 67% of workers working the same number of hour per week, and 58% working the same number of hours per day. The proportion of workers who work the same number of days per week has increased from 74% in 2005 to 77% in 2010. Slightly fewer workers in 2010 (61%) than in 2000 (65%) start and finish work at the same time every day.

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) is a tripartite EU body, whose role is to provide key actors in social policymaking with findings, knowledge and advice drawn from comparative research. Eurofound was established by Council Regulation EEC No 1365/75 of 26 May 1975 and is located in Dublin, Ireland.

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound)