Improving the quality of jobs in the EU

Adequate wages and quality jobs are essential for economic stability and reducing poverty. While Europe generally performs well in this regard, there is room for improvement, especially as workers continue to feel the impact of global crises and rising living costs, and companies struggle with labour shortages. To help address these challenges, the Commission has presented the quality jobs roadmap and started consulting social partners on the forthcoming quality jobs act, to boost productivity, prosperity and competitiveness. 

Developed after consultations with European and national trade unions and employer organisations, the roadmap focuses on areas where EU action can make the greatest difference  

• creating and maintaining quality jobs across the EU
• ensuring fairness and modernisation in the world of work
• supporting workers and employers in the green, digital and demographic transitions
• strengthening social dialogue and collective bargaining
• ensuring effective access to rights, quality public services and adequate investment 

The Commission plans to present the quality jobs act in 2026, to support productivity and competitiveness and update EU rules protecting workers. Social partners will once again be consulted on 

• careful management of algorithms and artificial intelligence at work
• updating EU rules on health and safety at work, to address psychosocial and ergonomic risks of transformed workplaces  
• ensuring subcontracted work respects labour, health and safety regulations
• making sure the company restructuring brought about by the green and digital transitions is fair for both workers and employers  
• strengthening the enforcement of workers’ rights and the role of social partners   

The first phase of this consultation will run until 29 January 2026.  

For more information 

Press release - Commission sets out roadmap for future-proof quality jobs in a competitive EU 

Questions and answers 

A new plan for Europe's sustainable prosperity and competitiveness