Questions and answers on the Quality Jobs Roadmap
Questions and answers on the Quality Jobs Roadmap
- What are quality jobs? How do they help people and companies?
There is no single definition of a quality job. In general, quality jobs offer fair pay, safe and healthy working conditions, protection from stress and other risks at work, job security, work-life balance, gender equality, access to skills, training and career development, strong social protection, as well as collective bargaining coverage.
Quality jobs are essential for people's wellbeing and for a strong and competitive social Europe. Workers in quality jobs drive innovation, contributing to higher productivity. Quality jobs also benefit companies by supporting innovation, and helping employers attract and retain talent.
The Commission's analysis in the European Semester supports the need to address job quality. The proposal for a Joint Employment Report, part of the Semester autumn package, highlights that Europe needs to address structural weaknesses in its labour market by improving the quality of jobs and shows that quality jobs help achieve higher productivity growth, better economic performance, and more social fairness and social cohesion.
- Why is the Commission presenting the Quality Jobs Roadmap now, and how does the Roadmap support quality jobs?
Just as companies struggle to remain competitive, workers feel the impact of global crises, higher cost of living, and rapid change affecting their lives and careers. Despite progress in employment, Productivity growth is slow and in-work poverty persists. At the same time, demographic change, global and trade competition, industrial transformation and rapid technological change are reshaping Europe's labour markets.
Against this backdrop, President von der Leyen announced a Quality Jobs Roadmap in her 2024–2029 Political Guidelines. The guidelines placed a renewed emphasis on building a strong Social Europe, underlying that social fairness and competitiveness go hand in hand. The Roadmap also delivers on the objectives set out in President von der Leyen's mission letter for Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, by providing an important milestone in the Commissions work to support people, strengthen our societies and our social model, and to ensure a just transition for all.
- What does the Roadmap focus on?
The Roadmap focuses on creating and sustaining quality jobs, outlining the areas where the EU adds the most value:
- Job creation: Making sure that industries and jobs of the future remain competitive in Europe, amid rapid change towards a greener, more digital economy.
- Good working conditions: Promoting adequate pay, good working conditions, social protection, access to training, stronger enforcement of labour rules, and upholding standards for safety and health at work.
- Modernisation: Ensuring the uptake and responsible use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, while protecting workers.
- Fair transitions: Supporting workers in the green and digital transitions through skills development and information and consultation of workers.
- Key enabling factors: enforcing the existing labour rights, strong social dialogue and collective bargaining coverage, quality public services, and adequate funding.
- What was the role of social partners in shaping the Quality Jobs Roadmap?
As confirmed in the Pact for European Social Dialogue, the Commission is committed to strengthening social dialogue at all levels.
European trade unions and employer organisations (‘social partners') - representing more than 45 million workers and 15 million companies in the EU – played a central role in developing the Quality Jobs Roadmap through an unprecedented consultation process at EU and national level.
Between April and June 2025, around 200 organisations took part in extensive exchanges. At EU level, all 88 recognised European social partners joined dedicated meetings, the cross-industry Social Dialogue Committee and 44 EU Sectoral Social Dialogue Committees. National consultations were also organised in all 27 Member States.
The Quality Jobs Act was announced by President von der Leyen in her 2025 state of the EU address and the Commission's 2026 work programme. It will be complemented by non-legislative measures to help European jobs remain safe, fair and future-ready.
Together with the Roadmap, the Commission has launched the first-stage consultation of European social partners to identify where further EU action may be needed to strengthen job quality. The consultation aims to gather the views of EU social partners on topics including AI at work, health and safety, subcontracting, fair transitions and enforcement of labour law. The first stage will run until 29 January 2026.
- Why is improving subcontracting important for quality jobs, and what is the EU already doing?
Subcontracting is a legitimate and valuable business model that helps companies access specialised skills and stay competitive. However, in some sectors - such as construction, transport or agriculture - long or opaque subcontracting chains can create risks of abuse of labour rights. The EU already has a strong legal framework in place to protect workers in subcontracting arrangements.
The Commission continues to support stronger enforcement and more transparency, including through work with the European Labour Authority and by examining national liability regimes.
- How will the Quality Jobs Roadmap and Act complement existing EU initiatives on social rights, skills, and competitiveness?
Both the Quality Jobs Roadmap and upcoming Quality Jobs Act support existing initiatives, such as the Competitiveness Compass, the Union of Skills, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the Directive on adequate minimum wages. The Roadmap will support the Competitiveness Compass, as an enabler for Europe's competitiveness, and a resilient European social model.
The Quality Jobs Act will modernise and complement existing EU minimum rules on worker protection, striking a careful balance between safeguarding workers and supporting competitiveness, especially for small companies. The Act will respect the diversity of national systems and the autonomy of social partners. It will also keep administrative burdens to a minimum, contributing to the Commission's simplification agenda.
- Does the EU provide funding to support quality jobs?
Yes. EU funding helps turn policy into action and supports quality jobs across Europe. It also supports cross-border learning, mobility, social innovation, and partnerships between education and businesses to help workers gain the skills needed for quality jobs.
Key funding programmes include:
- European Social Fund Plus: Over €96 billion for people, skills, and social rights.
- NextGenerationEU and InvestEU: Support skills development, social investments, small businesses, and labour-market reforms.
- European Regional Development Fund and Just Transition Fund: Help vulnerable workers, digitalisation, and fair transitions.
- Sector-specific programmes: For agriculture, fisheries, and the blue economy, promoting fair working conditions and new skills.
In addition, the Commission's proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) aims to continue investing in skills, health, and digital projects. At least 14% of National and Regional Partnership Programmes will be dedicated to social objectives, while the new EU Competitiveness Fund and the reinforced Erasmus programme will support the development of a skilled workforce.
For More Information
Quality Jobs Roadmap: Communication
First-stage consultation on Quality Jobs Act
Webpage: Competitiveness
