Eurofound Talks

Eurofound

Eurofound is a tripartite European Union Agency, based in Dublin. Our role is to provide knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies. #EurofoundTalks provides insights from our experts on issues impacting people's work and lives throughout Europe and beyond. Give us your feedback at media@eurofound.europa.eu, find out more about our work at https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/.

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#46
July 10 · 25 min
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 this 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. Learn more: Employment and working conditions of the most vulnerable workers: Addressing an ongoing policy challenge | Eurofound
May 29 · 33 min
Behind the scenes of the European Working Conditions Survey
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.
April 22 · 37 min
Are Europeans prepared for climate change?
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.
March 26 · 21 min
Shaping Europe’s social and employment future
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.
March 6 · 21 min
Is work in Europe more stressful for women?
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.
February 26 · 27 min
Is financial resilience and trust in Europe faltering?
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.
February 3 · 37 min
The housing struggles of Europe’s youth
In this episode of Eurofound Talks Mary McCaughey is joined by Marie Hyland to discuss the latest research on housing issues for Europe’s youth. They explore why property prices and rents have outpaced wages since 2010, leaving many young adults unable to achieve independence. The conversation covers the stark reality of the rental market, where securing a starter flat in some regions now requires more than a full median income. From the rise of boomerang children to the role of the new European Commissioner for Housing, this episode examines how to restore affordability for a generation.
January 19 · 22 min
Making the EU accountable to its citizens
In an era where public trust is paramount, the latest episode of the Eurofound Talks looks at the mechanisms that keep the European Union transparent and fiscally responsible. Host Mary McCaughey sits down with Tony Murphy, President of the European Court of Auditors, to discuss the critical role of financial oversight in safeguarding the European project. They also discuss the importance of Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Dec 15, 2025 · 49 min
What future for green jobs in Europe?
In this episode, Mary McCaughey speaks with Martina Bisello, Expert on Sustainability Transitions and Justice at the European Environment Agency, and Jorge Cabrita, Senior Research Manager at Eurofound, about the role of green jobs in Europe’s economic, social and environmental future. They discuss how tackling climate change is not merely an environmental policy goal but a fundamental necessity for maintaining job quality and economic stability across Europe.
Dec 4, 2025 · 33 min
Europe's productivity paradox
This episode of Eurofound Talks looks at why Europe has experienced a more profound slowdown in growth compared to other developed regions, and why greater labour input and higher human capital has not translated into higher output per worker. Mary McCaughey and John Hurley also discuss whether Europe can, and should, look to compete with countries such as the United States and China in the race to harness artificial intelligence.
Nov 10, 2025 · 46 min
Is AI making work safer?
This episode looks at whether AI is making work safer in Europe. Mary McCaughey speaks with Dragoș Adăscăliței, Research Officer at Eurofound, and Ioannis Anyfantis, Project Manager at the European Agency for Occupational Safety and Health (EU OSHA) about how AI deployment is influencing workers health, how AI policy in Europe compares to global competitors, and the decisions around AI that need to be made at EU, national and company level.
Oct 17, 2025 · 36 min
Grappling with Europe's wealth gap
This episode of Eurofound Talks, published on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, looks in-depth at Europe’s wealth divide. Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound researchers Carlos Vacas and Eszter Sandor about how wealth inequality remains as intractable as ever – despite positive developments in recent years on wages and improvements in general working conditions.
Sep 10, 2025 · 31 min
Is Europe’s mental health still in crisis?
Mental health in Europe is at a critical crossroads. While some indicators have improved since the pandemic, a new Eurofound report reveals concerning trends, including an alarming halt to the decades-long decline in suicide rates. This episode of Eurofound Talks explores this complex issue, highlighting that poor mental health is disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups. The conversation also tackles the double-edged sword of digitalisation and the significant barriers to mental healthcare, such as stigma and long waiting lists, that leave many without the support they desperately need.
Jun 30, 2025 · 52 min
The evolution of working conditions in Europe
This episode examines the evolving landscape of European working conditions, situated at the nexus of profound technological transformation. Mary McCaughey speaks with Barbara Gerstenberger, Eurofound's Head of Unit for Working Life, who leverages insights from the 35-year history of the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS). This survey series offers agranular perspective on the longitudinal shifts in European labour. The discussion assesses how artificial intelligence and digitalisation are reshaping employment, drawing parallels with historical industrial shifts, while acknowledging the continuous adaptive capacity of the world of work.
May 1, 2025 · 35 min
How are minimum wage levels changing in Europe?
In this episode Mary McCaughey sits down with Eurofound expert Carlos Vacas Soriano to explore how minimum wages have changed in Europe over the past year, as well as the implications of these shifts. Listeners are invited to dive into the intricacies of Europe's minimum wage dynamics and the factors driving these changes. The conversation also sheds light on the broader implications of minimum wage change for income inequalities and gender equality.
Apr 10, 2025 · 38 min
How can Europe adapt to an ageing workforce?
How can Europe adapt to an ageing workforce? What impediments do older workers face at the workplace? How are changing technologies and job quality influencing the retention of older workers on the labour market? This episode sets out to answer these questions in the context of changing demographics in Europe and the need to make work more sustainable.
Mar 7, 2025 · 48 min
What is the future for gender equality in Europe?
This special episode, recorded for International Women’s Day 2025, looks at women’s progress in the labour market and society over the past five decades, as well as sticking points on the path to gender equality in Europe, particularly related to the gender employment and pay gaps.
Feb 28, 2025 · 30 min
Is Europe's teleworking experiment coming to an end?
This episode of Eurofound Talks looks at data from the Living and working in the EU e-survey showing a decline in the number of respondents engaged in remote work, with the percentage of people working entirely from the workplace increasing from 36% in 2023, to 41% in 2024.
Jan 30, 2025 · 59 min
50 years of social change in Ireland and Europe
In this episode of the Eurofound Talks podcast Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound Deputy Director Maria Jepsen, and Barry Colfer, Director of Research at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), about European social change over the past 50 years, Eurofound’s role in these changes, how Ireland itself has developed and changed, and the challenges currently on the horizon.
Dec 17, 2024 · 31 min
How can we effectively tackle cyberbullying at work?
Over the last decade, information and communication technologies have changed the way employees work and communicate with each other. While the digitalisation of work offers many benefits, widespread access to digital devices in working life has provided fertile ground for the emergence of new forms of antisocial behaviours, including workplace cyberbullying. In this episode of Eurofound Talks, Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound Senior Research Manager Sara Riso about what constitutes cyberbullying, how widespread the issue of cyberbullying at work is, and whether there is sufficient legislation and workplace rules to address it effectively. They discuss how bullying and cyberbullying have emerged as prominent issues in national policy debates, primarily as problems affecting young people rather than as a more general phenomenon in the workplace and detrimental to workers’ well-being. Whether online or face to face – it would seem that bullying at work is more prevalent than commonly acknowledged.

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