Welfare systems and labour market policies for economic and social resilience in Europe (WeLaR)

Client/Funding Institution

European Commission, Horizon Europe

Abstract

WeLaR is a three-year research project funded by the Horizon Europe Framework Programme that aims to examine the impact of digitalisation, globalisation, climate change and demographic shifts on labour markets and welfare states in Europe. WeLaR will not only improve the understanding of the individual and combined effects of these trends, but also offer policy proposals helping to adapt welfare systems to these pressing challenges. The project's ultimate goal is to assist in the creation of policies that ensure economic growth is distributed fairly across society and generates opportunities for all. To achieve these goals, the WeLaR team will develop a new framework to study the effects of the four megatrends on the labour market and the welfare state. It will integrate analysis of their impacts on labour supply, demand and market matching, while accounting for the interactions among the four megatrends and the mediating role of institutions and policies. WeLaR will use a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as stakeholder engagement. The research is carried on by a consortium of 10 institutions from seven European countries and is being coordinated by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven). wiiw’s contributions address primarily intra-family time allocation of paid work and housework, atypical work and intra-EU mobility patterns, the impact of offshoring and automation on the demand for typical and atypical jobs, and the role of unions and policies for the quality of work.

Duration

September 2022 - August 2025

Website

https://projectwelar.eu/

wiiw team Leader

Sandra M. Leitner

wiiw Staff

Veronika Janyrova, Alireza Sabouniha, Maryna Tverdostup, Stella Sophie Zilian

Countries covered: EU27

Research Areas: Labour, Migration and Income Distribution


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