Eurofound launches sixth edition of survey assessing working conditions across Europe

On Monday 2 February 2015 Eurofound launched the fieldwork for the 6th European Working Conditions Survey (6EWCS) which will be conducted in the UK by Ipsos. Based on interviews with over 43,000 workers, this critical and timely research tracks the current state of working conditions in Europe, highlights the quality of work and employment, and monitors changing trends. The first findings of the 6EWCS will be presented at the end of 2015.

The European Working Conditions Surveys (EWCS) provide valuable and unique comparative information about working conditions, including issues such as working time, health and safety at work, work organisation, work-life balance, training, and overall satisfaction with working conditions. The underlying aim is to help policymakers improve overall living and working conditions.

To date, Eurofound has carried out five European Working Conditions Surveys (1991, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010). This sixth wave of the survey will build on the lessons learned from the previous five surveys and will provide a rich portrait of workplace trends in Europe over the last 25 years.

The survey offers an opportunity for workers to make their voices heard about the state of their working conditions and about how working conditions and quality of work affect their lives.

In cooperation with Ipsos, Eurofound will interview around 43,000 workers in 35 European countries during the period February to June 2015. Interviews will be carried out face-to-face in the person's home. The collected information will be treated in the strictest confidentiality, guaranteeing the anonymity of interviewees. The survey targets a random sample of working people ranging from 1,000 to 3,300 in each country.

Further information:

• Overview of the European Working Conditions Surveys
• The 6th European Working Conditions Survey (6EWCS)

Contacts:

• Ms Sophia MacGoris, Surveys Assistant, Eurofound, on email or telephone: +353-1-204 3130
• Mr Måns Mårtensson, Media Manager, Eurofound, on email telephone: +353-1-204 3124, or mobile: +353-876-593 507.
• Mr Andrew Johnson, Ipsos, on email and telephone: +32-2-6424916, or mobile +44-7760293421
• Ms Rebecca Klahr, Ipsos, on email or telephone: +44-20 7347 3000