Job quality is a priority in the EU, according to annual Commission report

The quality of jobs in the EU has improved over the past decade, according to the 2026 European Employment and Social Outlook, published today. The report points to progress in three areas: pay, job security, and working time. It shows that better-quality jobs help build a strong, productive and competitive economy.

The report finds that better-quality jobs can raise productivity by improving motivation, reducing staff turnover, encouraging skills development and supporting better work organisation.

The report also looks at current challenges, including slowing employment growth, weak productivity growth, and pressure on household incomes from high energy prices. It highlights that labour shortages are often more pronounced in poorer-quality jobs, showing that improving job quality can help attract and retain workers where they are most needed. In turn, higher productivity can help improve wages and working conditions.

Later this year, the Commission will present the Quality Jobs Act, following the second-phase consultation of EU social partners.

Job quality still varies across countries, sectors and occupations

Job quality differs between sectors. It is higher in sectors of strategic and economic importance to the EU, in particular manufacturing and knowledge-intensive service sectors. On the other hand, labour shortage occupations often involve more atypical hours, less secure jobs and lower pay.

The report shows that better-quality jobs are more common in information and communication, finance and insurance, public administration, and professional, scientific and technical activities. Poorer-quality jobs are more often found in accommodation and food services, administrative and support services, and some lower-skilled service jobs. In addition, differences remain across Member States, with some countries recording deteriorations in two or more job quality indicators over the past decade even as the overall EU trend remained positive.