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

Overview

• Role: Provides research-based input for the development of social, employment and work-related policies
• Executive Director: Ivailo Kalfin 
• Set up: 1975
• Staff: 100
• Location: Dublin (Ireland)
• Website: Eurofound

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) is a tripartite European Union Agency established in 1975. Its role is to provide knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies according to Regulation (EU) 2019/127.

What does Eurofound do?

Eurofound’s priorities are shaped by the key challenges for social cohesion and just transitions in a changing environment in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. Every four years, Eurofound reviews its strategy and what it is aiming to achieve. After wide-ranging consultations with its Management Board and the EU institutions, it draws up a four-year programming document.

The Agency’s core activities are:

• To carry out research on social, employment and work-related issues covering a range of topics
• To communicate the results, including research-based conclusions, to EU and national policymakers to support them in delivering policies to improve living and working conditions, devising employment policies and promoting social dialogue
• To facilitate knowledge sharing among and between EU and national actors

The Agency conducts research projects and 3 EU-wide surveys on:

• working conditions (European Working Conditions Survey, EWCS)
• quality of life (European Quality of Life Survey, EQLS)
• company practices (European Company Survey, ECS)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Eurofound has adjusted its research to monitor the situation and collect data regarding the impact on the lives of EU citizens and policy responses to mitigate the effects. A key element of the research is the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey, first launched in April 2020.

• Publication series: COVID-19
• Topic: COVID-19
• Data: Living, working and COVID-19 data
• Database: COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch

Its work is used to provide an evidence base for policy – such as in the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025, the EU Directive on work–life balance and the European initiatives on youth unemployment and the Youth Guarantee.

Eurofound disseminates its research findings and policy-relevant knowledge through:

• print and online publications
• its website and social media
• webinars, seminars and conferences
• its visitor programme
• data visualisation tools
• country pages

Who benefits?

The main target group for Eurofound’s research is EU-level decision-makers, specifically:

• EU institutions
• EU-level employers
• EU-level trade union groups

Other organisations it serves include:

• national governments, employer organisations, trade unions and civil society organisations
• parliaments
• research institutes
• universities

Further information

Who we are

What we do

Recent and forthcoming publications

Living and working in Europe yearbook

Corporate brochure

Corporate video

Multiannual and annual work programmes

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