1. The future of work and employment
GLORIA Workshop: Global corporate value chains and innovation networks in the fourth industrial era: new models of production and work organisation
The future of work and employment
Irene Mandl
Brussels, 17 May 2019

2. About Eurofound Established in 1975 Based in Dublin
Brussels Liaison Office
Budget of € 20.5 million (2018)
91 staff members
EU agency

3. Evolution on the labour market
The future world of work
Digitalisation
New business models
New forms of employment

4. What is a ‘New form of employment?
Employment relationship
- 1:n
- n:1
- n:n
Networking among self-employed
Work patterns
- Discontinuity
- Intermittent
- Non-conventional fixed term
Non-conventional workplace (e.g. ‘around’, own-office, etc.)
Support of ICT (e.g. mobile phone, iPad, etc.)
Irrespective of legal basis, collective agreement, type of contract
Irrespective of sector and occupation
National perspective
Newly emerging or of increasing importance
Since about 2000

5. New forms of employment Overview

6. Impact on working conditions

7. Effect of new forms of employment on working conditions and the labour market

8. Categorisation of self-employed in Europe
32 million
(% within self-employed)
EU28 workforce
220.7 million
Employees
188.7 million
(86%)
Self-employed
32 million
(14%)

9. Heterogeneity among self-employment types
Necessity vs. opportunity driven
Decision making power
Employing staff
Income levels
Number of clients
Working hours
Risk to lose the job
Career potential
Heterogeneity among self-employment types

10. Global value chains – a role for SMEs?

11. Born globals
Specialised, highly innovative, intensive international activities
Small national market size as main internationalisation driver
Engage in different internationalisation modes at the same time
Variety of roles of the born globals in the supply chains
Realised benefits of the cooperation for both born globals and their cooperation partners
Employment and working conditions
Competitiveness and business case
R&D and innovation

12. Digital technologies in the workplace
Automation
Digitisation
Platforms

13. Brief overview Automation Digitisation Platforms
What is it?
Examples
Challenges for work and employment
Automation
HR tasks REPLACED by machines
Robotics, drones, Artificial Intelligence
Job polarisation, work organisation, skill demands
Digitisation
Digital Production PROCESSES
Internet of Things, VR, 3D printing
Fragmentation of jobs, contractual arrangements, privacy
Platforms
COORDINATION Matching of supply and demand
Transport, delivery, online services
Work organisation, fragmentation, employment status

14. Some concluding pointers for future work and employment
Technology as ONE driver, but also societal and economic trends
Common effects
Potential for structural change on the labour market
Job destruction and creation
Changes in occupations, tasks
Understanding and meaningfulness of jobs
Increasing diversity of employment and working conditions
Implications on, e.g.
Flexibility and autonomy
Workplace integration
Stress and work intensity – health and well-being
Skills
Workers‘ rights and entitlements
Challenges e.g. for
HRM and work organisation
Education and training provision
Labour law (employment status)
Social protection and wellfare systems
Representation
Data and privacy protection, IPR

16. Thank you for your attention!
Irene Mandl
Publications at