Work is not only an essential part of our daily lives, but also one of the top policy concerns across Europe. Unfortunately, the public debate of labour issues is all too often driven by political rhetoric and short-term concerns. In this volume, researchers from seven European countries attempt to explain in easily accessible language what the findings from various social sciences mean for the future of labour in Europe. [The authors'] objective has been to analyse possible future developments in European labour market(s) under the main assumption that European societies are now facing or pre
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Work is not only an essential part of our daily lives, but also one of the top policy concerns across Europe. Unfortunately, the public debate of labour issues is all too often driven by political rhetoric and short-term concerns. In this volume, researchers from seven European countries attempt to explain in easily accessible language what the findings from various social sciences mean for the future of labour in Europe. [The authors'] objective has been to analyse possible future developments in European labour market(s) under the main assumption that European societies are now facing or preparing to face profound transitions, or what [the authors] call 'megatrends', that will have a major impact on employment, particularly for some groups in the labour force or sectors of the economy.
These natural and societal megatrends will reshape the global conditions for Europe, posing numerous challenges to societies and policy-makers in the area of labour. 'Societal megatrends' take the form of demographic transition, the ongoing shifts in the economic and political centres of gravity worldwide, the growing use of information and communication technologies and the related new forms of knowledge-sharing. By 'natural megatrends', [the authors] mean the increasing volatility of climate change, the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and rising challenges to resource security, all of which can be expected to have far-reaching implications for production and consumption patterns of European societies.
Excerpts from publication.
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