The European Centre for Workers’ Questions (EZA) held its kick-off seminar on 21-22 November 2024 entitled ‘Demographic challenges in the European labour markets’. “This topic affects all of us to a greater or lesser extent,” explained EZA President Luc Van den Brande in his opening speech to the approx. 80 attendees from Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Ukraine.
The kick-off seminar takes place annually and was organised with the Centro Español para Asuntos de los Trabajadores (CEAT) (Spanish Centre for Worker’s Questions). The seminar was held in Seville, Spain, and funded by the European Union. The aim was to bring together all the organisations that would be implementing EZA projects this year on the theme of European social dialogue.
This seminar focused on demographic change in Europe. The Head of the Demographic Observatory of the University of San Pablo (CEU), Alejandro Macarrón Larumbe, stated that low birth rates in many European countries and the already obviously ageing of society in general are having many negative effects and are cause for great concern. It is crucial to look closely at demographic changes and to ignore any ideological misgivings. We must develop a society in which parenthood is desired and protected if we want birth rates to increase. Economic framework conditions must also be created to promote the idea of families. Macarrón Larumbe emphasised that mothers and fathers must achieve a more equal share of responsibilities.
Sven Matzke, Acting Director of Social Dialogue at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, predicts that almost 1 million workers will leave the European labour market every year by 2050 due to ageing. Four actions in particular have therefore been placed in a ‘demographic toolbox’ to help EU member states tackle demographic challenges. Parents need support to reconcile family responsibilities and paid work and younger generations must be helped to acquire skills that are in demand in the labour market. Matzke stated that it is equally important to implement suitable workplace policies to retain older employees in the labour market. Migration that is well managed must also be a solution to ease labour shortages in Europe.
The President of the EZA member organisation Confederación Nacional de Federación y Asociaciones de Familias y Mujeres del Medio Rural (National Confederation of the Federation and Associations of Families and Women in Rural Areas) (AFAMMER) explained that older people should not just be seen as a burden, but also as an important social pillar, particularly in rural areas. This appeal was also supported by María José Rodríguez Ramos, Professor of Labour and Social Security Law at the University of Seville and CEAT representative, and José Luis Fernández Santillana, Head of the Research Office of the Unión Sindical Obrera (USO) (Workers’ Trade Union), who is also President of the Spanish Confederation of Organisations for Older People (CEOMA).
Older employees are also an important resource in the challenge to overcome labour shortages, and their skills and experience could make a major contribution. In future, we must also focus more on ensuring a better match between the skills acquired and the demands of the labour market. The findings arose from a study by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND), which was presented by Research Manager, Tina Weber.
Another aspect of demographic change is labour migration and mobility. Professor Vera Gligorijević, Head of the Demography Department at the University of Belgrade, stated that a Europe-wide migration and mobility policy is required if migration is to successfully counter the problem of ageing labour markets. Numerous positive effects can be achieved if we apply the principle of solidarity between the countries that ‘export’ a workforce and those that receive it. Employment lawyer and Director of Caritas, Miguel Ángel Carbajo Selles from Seville, supported the rapid and sustainable integration of refugees into the labour market. CEAT representative Mario González Somoano, who presented the aid programs of the ‘Pueblos con Futuro’ (Towns with a Future) association, demonstrated how this could be achieved and that it requires the commitment of civil society.
This demographic change is also putting pressure on Europe's social security systems. Dr Norbert Schnedl, Chairman of the Versicherungsanstalt für Angestellte des öffentlichen Dienstes, der Eisenbahnen und der Bergarbeiter (Board of the Insurance Institution for Public Service Employees, Railways and Miners) (BVAEB), explained the steps his institution has taken in this respect. Professor Eleni de Becker from the Free University of Brussels is conducting research into how social security systems must adapt and develop innovative solutions to achieve this. According to de Becker, other sources of income are required to fund social security systems apart from salaries, and any reforms will have to take into account the changes in labour relations arising from digitalisation and artificial intelligence.
Care will play an important role in the future in an ageing Europe, and it is women who predominantly provide care services, often unpaid. Lisa Neubauer from the Oswald Nell-Breuning Institut für Wirtschafts- und Sozialethik (Oswald Nell-Breuning Institute for Economic and Social Ethics) appealed for more gender equality in this sector. Findings have shown that sustainable care systems can only be developed if they operate along ethical principles, consider the interests of those in need of care and their relatives and carers and, in particular, if they ensure good working conditions. This can only succeed if social dialogue can be turned into the relevant concrete agreements. This is also part of the European care strategy presented by Aneta Szczykutowicz, Project Coordinator from the Polish EZA member Europejski Dom Spotkań - Fundacja Nowy Staw (European Meeting Centre - Nowy Staw Foundation).
We can only overcome the demographic challenges we are facing if we also include ageing and older people across Europe. This was one of the conclusions drawn by EZA Co-President Piergiorgio Sciacqua at the end of the event. “The problem of demographic change concerns us all,”’ continued Sciacqua. We have been warned of an impending ‘demographic winter’ for years, but many of us have failed to take the threat seriously a long time. “Demographic change is important for EZA,” explained the EZA Co-President. We cannot tackle the associated problems from extreme positions. As Piergiorgio Sciacqua stated in his closing speech, the solution to the challenge “must reside in the centre”.