Employment and the changing labour market

This Research Report forms part of our series on global societal trends and their impact on the EU in 2030. This analysis is embedded within the framework of the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS) set up to develop a lasting framework to assess global trends and to develop policy responses across EU institutions over the next institutional cycle (2014–2019). The first phase of the project assessed the long-term, international, domestic, economic and political trends facing the European Union over the next two decades; the second phase of the project split trends into three streams, namely the economy, governance and power, and society. RAND Europe's assessment of likely global societal trends constituted 'Trend Report 2 — Society' for this second phase.

This report presents the evidence base, uncertainties and potential trajectories surrounding trends in one of the six major themes which form part of Trend Report 2 — Society, namely labour and employment. The report analyses important features of the global workforce, the new types of entrants to the labour market, and vulnerable individuals in the labour force, as well as the skills mismatch affecting employers in many regions of the world. Finally, the report analyses the impact of new technologies on the workplace. In doing so, it touches on issues as diverse as youth unemployment, migration and the ageing workforce.