Fragmentation? The future of work in Europe in a global economy

1. Changes in work in Europe Fragmentation? The future of work in Europe in a global economy Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008

2. 6FP – Citizens and Governance in the KBS 2.1.3 Changes in work in the knowledge society HIVA-K.U.LEUVEN - Belgium FORBA – Austria LONDONMET- UK FTU –Belgium UPSPS – Greece UT – Netherlands UESSEX - UK ISB –Hungary ISF MUNCHEN - Germany FZK – Germany IET –Portugal IRES - Italy SINTEF - Norway ATK– Sweden CEE-CNRS – France IS - Bulgaria AMI - Denmark IT Logistics Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008 Austria Belgium Bulgaria Denmark France Germany Greece Hungary Italy Netherlands Norway Portugal Sweden UK

3. Empirical data: the WORKS project • WORKS research • 58 organisational case studies: • Selected out of matrix combining: (5)business functionsX(5) sectorsX(13)countries • Restructuring event past 5 years • Workplace level interviews • 30 occupational case studies • Occupational groups in the business function • Analysis of EU databases from establishment and employee surveys: • CLFS, EWCS, CHP • EU and national establishment surveys Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008

4. 1. Corporate strategies in value chain restructuring • Speed • Innovation • Innovating companies and the learning organisation Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008

5. 1. Corporate strategies in value chain restructuring • 1. Counteracted by: • Competition • Speed • Knowledge codification • 2. Next to restructuring, there is • Standardisation • Formalisation • rationalisation • 3. Survey data show: • Jobs offer less learning opportunities Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008

6. 2. Flexibility in value chain restructuring • Economic challenge: flexible organisations • Social challenge: employment/income security • Educational challenge: life-long learning Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008

7. 2. Flexicurity in value chain restructuring • Flexibility • Flexibilisation of contracts along the chain • Flexibilisation of working time • Fragmentation of working conditions and employment security along the chain • Growing inequalities • Growing pressure • Job stability >< feelings of insecurity Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008

8. 2. Flexicurity in value chain restructuring • 2. Employability • Skill mismatches and overqualification • Varieties of national, industry and company-based regulation • Eroding or non-existent VET structures • The individual and the company • Some germs of new VET coordination Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008

9. 3. EU heterogeneity • A lot of typologies and classifications • A lot of clustering problems • In the changes and the responses • National similarities but not consistent • What is ‘a country’ • Always exceptions to the rule • How similar countries have to be? Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008

10. 3. EU heterogeneity Varieties show that options and choices are to be made... Monique Ramioul WORKS conference Rome, 8-9/10/2008