‘Jobs, jobs, jobs’, ambivalence of concerted change for employment in Europe

Abstract

Unions’ and employers’ organisations are broadly considered as significant actors in the regulation of labour markets in Europe. And since its formal launch in 1997, the European Employment Strategy has insisted on their active participation in the implementation of the guidelines within Member States. From an industrial relations point of view, such participation seems natural, and even desirable. However, bipartite and tripartite processes for employment and the nature of current labour market change are not without challenges for unions and employers’ associations. Adopting a slightly provocative position, this article questions the ambivalences of concertation in the search for full employment.