(13 July 2018) – Today, the European Commission has published the 2018 edition of its yearly Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) review.
This year’s edition confirms the ongoing positive labour market trends as well as an improving social situation.
The numbers of people in employment reached new record levels. With almost 238 million people having a job, employment has never been higher in the EU. In 2017 over three and a half million more people were in employment, compared with 2016.
However, while the number of hours worked per person employed has grown in recent years, they are still below the 2008 levels.
At the same time we witness rising disposable incomes and lower levels of poverty. Severe material deprivation has receded to an all-time low, with 16.1 million fewer people affected, compared with 2012.
But looking at the impact of technological developments, there are uncertainties about the future effects of automation and digitalisation.