We publish regular reports on the labour market and social developments in the EU.
This analysis supports EU institutions, national governments and other stakeholders in social and employment policy making.
Key publications
Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) - Annual review
This review provides in-depth medium to long-term analysis of various employment and social issues, such as long-term unemployment, mobility and migration, people and skills as well as modernising social protection schemes.
Addressing labour shortages and bolstering the sustainability of labour supply in the EU require increased labour force participation alongside combating unemployment and underemployment. This report analyses the 51 million EU residents (aged 20-64) outside the workforce: women, older persons and migrants as the primary groups.
- Previous issues
- Printed copies available on request
Quarterly European Employment and Social Outlook
Quarterly European Employment and Social Outlook (EESO) quarterly reviews periodically provide an overview of recent social and labour market developments in the EU, accompanied by specific thematic analyses. It is complemented by the EESO quarterly dashboard, which provides always up-to-date data, additional indicators and charts and national figures.
The thematic part of this review focuses on workers' preferences in terms of job quality standards. Whether at EU level, most workers care for good pay and employee benefits, priorities change according to the geographical region (Western, Southern or Eastern Europe).
Labour Market and Wage Developments in Europe - annual review
This report analyses the labour market from a macroeconomic perspective. It provides an analysis of recent employment and wage developments, looking at the euro area and the EU as a whole in comparison with its global trading partners. Each edition includes a thematic chapter that deepens the macro-economic analysis of a relevant issue.
A section is devoted to policy trends and recent labour market measures enacted by EU countries, based on the LABREF database. The report also describes the labour market recommendations addressed to each member state in the context of the European Semester.
Labour market and wage developments in Europe 2025 HTML version
Working papers
Working papers examine various aspects of employment, skills and social developments and policy in detail and are a basis for evidence informed policy making
This working paper examines the dual nature of labour shortages: their impact on productivity growth and their role as a symptom of labour market frictions that lead to low-paid, low-quality jobs (e.g., carers, transport workers).
Fair transition working papers
Fair transition working papers present analytical outcomes providing new evidence or insights and policy-relevant conclusions of in-depth in-house analytical work and, where relevant, joint projects, notably with other services of the European Commission and other stakeholders.
This study (‘Assessment of potential employment, skills and social implications of Offshore Renewable Energy development in the EU’) presents a comprehensive review of the potential employment, skills, and social implications of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) development in the European Union (EU).
