Safer and healthier workplaces can help tackle labour shortages

Labour shortages persist across many occupations that are essential to Europe’s economy and its green and digital transitions. Cedefop and EU-OSHA highlight an important part of the solution: improving job quality, including occupational safety and health (OSH). Many shortage occupations, from construction, manufacturing and transport to health and social care, involve demanding working conditions and significant OSH risks. EU-OSHA evidence also shows the importance workers place on psychosocial wellbeing, work-life balance and workplace culture. Making work safer, healthier and more sustainable can therefore help employers attract and retain workers, while strengthening labour market resilience. Our joint article brings together EU-OSHA evidence on working conditions and OSH with Cedefop intelligence on skills and labour shortages.