News
BackEmployment figures and unemployment rates are the key indicators of the labour market. However, these figures are lacking something: they do not say anything about the quality of jobs. Or about the reconciliation between work and family life. The distribution of income is as little taken into consideration as are the chances on the labour market. AK and WIFO now want to change this and have developed the Labour Market Monitor, which was now introduced in Brussels.
The Europe 2020 Strategy has - apart from research, energy and education - two main strands: on the one hand the employment rate of 75 percent of the 20 to 64-year olds. And reducing poverty and social exclusion on the other.
Noble goals of the Commission. But who checks whether these goals are actually achieved? Labour representatives see themselves as a critical alternative to the common opinion of the Commission and therefore observe its action with a critical and attentive eye. And they substantiate their arguments with scientific analyses.
The Labour Market Monitor was presented for the first time at an event organised by AK EUROPA, European Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation ÖGB in Brussels and the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and discussed by an expert panel in front of 100 interested visitors. A similar instrument, the ETUI Job Quality Index was also introduced.
EU-wide Labour market monitoring system
Eva Rückert, Research staff member of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research WIFO, explained the structure of the Labour Market Monitor, which consists of five segments: general labour market performance (e.g. employment rate), integration orientation of the employment system (e.g. unemployment of young and older people), equal access and retention chances (e.g. education, care facilities), distribution of income and allocation by the welfare state.
Austria is among the European leaders in respect of the first, second and fifth segment; however, there are problems with regard to equal access and the distribution of income. Concerning these segments, Austria is only ranked in the upper mid-range.
Job Quality Index 2011
Janine Leschke of ETUI presented the JQI - this Index also consists of several sub-indices, such as wages, working time, working conditions, precarious working situations, career development and representation of interests. The Index concentrates on the quality of work and jobs.
Detailed discussion
Hendrik Kafsack, correspondent of FAZ and participants of the panel discussion tried to find out what impact such indices might have and which political conclusions should be drawn.
Georg Fischer, Director, DG Employment, Equal Opportunities and Inclusion, EU Commission, regarded “such indices as very helpful”, to “analyse and understand policies” on the one hand and to answer the question “Have we made progress in certain areas or not?” on the other.
MEP Evelyn Regner sang from the same hymn sheet. The Parliament was regularly dealing with the 2020 Strategy. Hence, it was important that such indices existed. “However, said Regner, “it is important who makes them. Indices by institution, which enjoy trust and credibility, are very valuable.”
WIFO member Helmut Mahringer replied to the question of the host, whether a new index would in any case account to nothing more than a lot of platitudes: “No, because we discovered a lot of new information. For example that Slovenia is right at the top when it comes to the question of distribution.”
And Josef Wallner from the Vienna Chamber of Labour replying to the same question: “It is worth to have a closer look because it reveals weaknesses, for example the way Austria deals with the employment of older workers. Here, politics can intervene in a more targeted manner.”
Andrew Watt of ETUI admits: “The JQI was a first attempt with all its weaknesses. However, many people regard job satisfaction as a decisive factor for their quality of life and therefore such indices have to be created and developed.”
And which political conclusions can be drawn from the indices? Watt: “What is missing are figures. For example occupational accident rates. This has to be dealt with quickly.” And Mahringer: “Austria for example has great difficulties with women who have care obligations and with the impact it has on their ability to work.”
However, the authors of the indices were already able to record a first success: “The indices will surely be considered in the next Employment Directives”, remarked Georg Fischer of the Commission in his concluding words.
References:
Labour Market Monitor (short version)
Labour Market Monitor
Job Quality Index
Noble goals of the Commission. But who checks whether these goals are actually achieved? Labour representatives see themselves as a critical alternative to the common opinion of the Commission and therefore observe its action with a critical and attentive eye. And they substantiate their arguments with scientific analyses.
The Labour Market Monitor was presented for the first time at an event organised by AK EUROPA, European Office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation ÖGB in Brussels and the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and discussed by an expert panel in front of 100 interested visitors. A similar instrument, the ETUI Job Quality Index was also introduced.
EU-wide Labour market monitoring system
Eva Rückert, Research staff member of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research WIFO, explained the structure of the Labour Market Monitor, which consists of five segments: general labour market performance (e.g. employment rate), integration orientation of the employment system (e.g. unemployment of young and older people), equal access and retention chances (e.g. education, care facilities), distribution of income and allocation by the welfare state.
Austria is among the European leaders in respect of the first, second and fifth segment; however, there are problems with regard to equal access and the distribution of income. Concerning these segments, Austria is only ranked in the upper mid-range.
Job Quality Index 2011
Janine Leschke of ETUI presented the JQI - this Index also consists of several sub-indices, such as wages, working time, working conditions, precarious working situations, career development and representation of interests. The Index concentrates on the quality of work and jobs.
Detailed discussion
Hendrik Kafsack, correspondent of FAZ and participants of the panel discussion tried to find out what impact such indices might have and which political conclusions should be drawn.
Georg Fischer, Director, DG Employment, Equal Opportunities and Inclusion, EU Commission, regarded “such indices as very helpful”, to “analyse and understand policies” on the one hand and to answer the question “Have we made progress in certain areas or not?” on the other.
MEP Evelyn Regner sang from the same hymn sheet. The Parliament was regularly dealing with the 2020 Strategy. Hence, it was important that such indices existed. “However, said Regner, “it is important who makes them. Indices by institution, which enjoy trust and credibility, are very valuable.”
WIFO member Helmut Mahringer replied to the question of the host, whether a new index would in any case account to nothing more than a lot of platitudes: “No, because we discovered a lot of new information. For example that Slovenia is right at the top when it comes to the question of distribution.”
And Josef Wallner from the Vienna Chamber of Labour replying to the same question: “It is worth to have a closer look because it reveals weaknesses, for example the way Austria deals with the employment of older workers. Here, politics can intervene in a more targeted manner.”
Andrew Watt of ETUI admits: “The JQI was a first attempt with all its weaknesses. However, many people regard job satisfaction as a decisive factor for their quality of life and therefore such indices have to be created and developed.”
And which political conclusions can be drawn from the indices? Watt: “What is missing are figures. For example occupational accident rates. This has to be dealt with quickly.” And Mahringer: “Austria for example has great difficulties with women who have care obligations and with the impact it has on their ability to work.”
However, the authors of the indices were already able to record a first success: “The indices will surely be considered in the next Employment Directives”, remarked Georg Fischer of the Commission in his concluding words.
References:
Labour Market Monitor (short version)
Labour Market Monitor
Job Quality Index