Programme

DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

The Socio-Economic Value of Job Quality
Launch of the European Employment and Social Outlook (EESO) 2026 

Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 13:00 - 19:00
EESC, Jacques Delors Building, Rue Belliard 99-101, 1040 Brussels, Room JDE 62

Background and context

The annual European Employment and Social Outlook is the European Commission's flagship report on employment and social affairs that provides up-to-date economic analysis. The 2026 edition focuses on job quality, its link to macroeconomic outcomes and related policies. Published in October 2026, the report shows that different groups and some specific sectors encounter greater job quality challenges. It also finds that artificial intelligence (AI) tools and algorithmic management (AM) practices can have profound implications for job quality across sectors and workers. In terms of impact, precarious jobs negatively affect productivity growth, consumption and social protection systems. The report provides policy approaches to help workers move to better jobs while protecting them, including through adequate minimum wages, collective bargaining, pay transparency and skills policies. 

Programme

Interpreting: Participants can speak and listen to French, English and German.

Moderator: Tamsin Rose

13:00-14:30 | Registration and lunch (Atrium 6, 6th floor)

14:30-14:50 | Welcome remarks

• Mario Nava (Director-General, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
• Cinzia Del Rio (President of the Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, EESC)

14:50-15:45 | The socio-economic value of job quality – EESO 2026 report

• Main findings: Jeroen Jutte (Director, Employment and Social Governance and Analysis, DG EMPL)
• Job quality today – every job matters: Nora Wukovits (DG EMPL)
• Better jobs, stronger economies: Klemen Knez (DG EMPL)
• Discussant: Christopher Warhurst (Professor, Warwick University)
• Discussant: Christine Erhel (Professor, Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, France)

15:30-15:45 | Q&A Session

15:45-16:10 | Coffee break

16:10-17:50 | Fireside chat

• Fireside chat with Stefan Olsson (Deputy Director-General, DG EMPL)
• Christopher Warhurst (Professor, Warwick University)
• Christine Erhel (Professor, Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, France)
• Monika Queisser (Senior Counsellor, Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD)
• Ivailo Kalfin (Executive Director, Eurofound)
• Patrick Belser (Chief of Inclusive Labour Markets, Wages and Working Conditions Branch, ILO)

17:40-17:50 | Q&A Session

17:50-18:00 | Closing remarks

• Andriana Sukova (Deputy Director-General, DG EMPL)

18:00-19:00 | Cocktail reception