The evolution of employment
Employment systems and job contracts vary widely in different countries, particularly as new policies and practices evolve. To limit uncertainty, businesses tend to limit the rights of employees and curb their influence on working conditions and work process. The EU-funded project 'Dynamics of national employment models' (Dynamo) aimed to examine this phenomenon in Europe. The project examined how the presence of distinct national employment models affect convergence towards one European system without compromising economic and social objectives. It therefore analysed national models in 10 EU countries and how they were evolving, particularly in different sectors. To accomplish this analysis, the project team looked at institutional change in employment in recent decades. It then studied employment-related institutional support offered to people throughout their life, from education and preparation for the labour market to retirement and pension. Different key issues were probed such as elderly care, introduction of new technologies, labour migration in light of EU harmonisation, and how free market policy affects state-run or traditional businesses. In addition, the project looked at different sectors as case studies, such as the construction sector, the hospitality sector and the information technology (IT) sector. It studied the effectiveness of European employment and produced a set of useful conclusions in this respect. After considering how internal and external pressures interact within a neoliberal mainstream, Dynamo concluded that multi-level institution building may be the answer to revitalising national employment models in Europe.
