Workforce In Europe Research Articles

Education, training and mobility: towards a common effort to assure a future workforce in Europe and abroad

The paper highlights the main features of some Euratom projects, which have been running recently in support to education, training and mobility in the nuclear fields. The described projects address various critical aspects of nuclear knowledge management, aiming at maintaining the wealth of nuclear expertise in Europe in an environment characterised by decreased attractiveness of nuclear careers. In an effort to broaden the cooperation and to further extend the opportunities for mobility, some projects ran in parallel with similar initiatives undertaken beyond the European borders. The lesson learnt in terms of successes achieved and critical aspects revealed by the different actions are finally discussed also considering recent recommendations and assessed scenarios by the European Commission for the decarbonisation of the energy sector.

Concept for distributed robotics learning environment - Increasing the access to the robotics via modularisation of systems and mobility

The ongoing digital transition affects manufacturing industry at all levels, from workers at a shop floor to machine systems, and from business models to future markets. Emerging technologies such as robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial intelligence (AI), and cyber-physical production systems (CPPS) capable of facilitating real-time processes, visibility and transparency of factory operations will speed up the change of manufacturing paradigms. The mass customization and personification is expected to increase further.The capability to address the requirements and needs of each individual customer will be a key differentiation and competitive factor. At the same time the workforce in Europe is diminishing, causing a miss-match between skills and needs from the industry. In manufacturing industry any skills are developed by experience, reflecting time on the labour market and age and skills taught in qualifications change. Qualifications which are prone to technological change are likely to reflect quite different embodied skills according to age cohort. In order to answer these challenges we have established a robotics fablab concept to support both formal and non-formal education offered to the younger students and industrial workforce alike. The concept utilises digital learning contents, a fablab operating philosophy and mobile factory concept, meaning that parts (e.g. robot cells) of the laboratory can be shipped to another location for a while to be used by learners. This paper will described the concept and preliminary findings from the applicability of the concept.

Workshop: Care4Care: the migrant care workforce in Europe

Abstract Background Foreign trained health workers increasingly fill the care gaps caused by labour market shortage and governance failures. As doctors, nurses and carers they make a crucial contribution to health system performance and the health of the population. These contributions are likely to increase in future, especially in high-income countries, where demographic change and NCDs reinforce the gap between demand for care and labour market supply. However, health system demands for migrant carers do not sit easily with the new wave of nationalism and populist movements in Europe and globally; they may also reinforce the ‘care drain’ in less well-resourced sending countries. There is an urgent need for more inclusive health workforce governance in order to take ‘care’ for the migrant health workforce both nationally and globally and ensure ‘health for all’. Objectives This workshop addresses these questions and fosters critical debate. It has three major aims: to make the migrant carers visible as important part of the health workforce and health system performance, to unmask the threats of growing nationalism and populist movements to healthcare systems and universal healthcare coverage, and finally to critically discuss how to govern the migrant care workforce in ways that improve both integration in the host country and solidarity across Europe and globally. The workshop brings together knowledge and expertise from the areas of health workforce, health services, and health policies and systems. It is organised as round table discussion, facilitated by an overview of migrant care workforce patterns and policies in selected European Union (EU) high-income countries and two in-depth country cases, namely Italy and Austria, both known for growing populism and nationalism and strong anti-migrant policies in the EU. The three panelists will discuss the role of migrant care workers and explore, from different perspectives, how to build capacity for new forms of health workforce governance that move beyond narrowly defined national/regional interests of health systems. The workshop will foster a wider debate on migrant careers and health workforce needs, and how public health can contribute to better take ‘care’ for the human resources for health. Key messages Migrant carers form an important part of the health workforce in European countries. Health systems must take care of the migrant health workforce and counteract growing nationalism.

Reorganization of Multinational Companies in the Western European Chemical Industry: Transformations in Industrial Management and Labor, 1960s to 1990s

Multinationals experienced a great growth after the European postwar boom. Factors in the 1970s included increasing competition from the United States, the emerging European market, as well as ongoing economic crises and changes in the international economy. The articles analyzes three case studies of Western European chemical companies—Hoechst, Akzo, and Rhône-Poulenc—to show the consequences of structural changes on management and the workforce. This article argues that (1) domestic export-oriented supplement investments lost importance, and the domestic workforce had a harder time meeting qualification requirements; (2) organizational changes incorporated divisional competitive elements into a company’s organization of work; and (3) managers had to learn to respect national path dependencies and specific skills of the local workforce. Furthermore, it illustrates the developments of the workforce in Europe and abroad and stresses the importance of nationality within the management of multinationals.

Senior Entrepreneurship: The Unrevealed Driver for Social Innovation.

From a political and economic perspective, senior entrepreneurship seems to be the response to the demographic consequences of the aging workforce in Europe. Several policies and strategies by the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) promote senior entrepreneurship by creating a favorable environment and frameworks. This article examines the role of senior entrepreneurship as a social innovation understood as a response to unmet needs of population aging in the area of economic activity. In this paper draws on qualitative interviews with 6 experts and 4 senior entrepreneurs (as part of a larger research project) in Poland in addition to the analysis of reports and evaluations of incubator projects. Findings highlight the importance of other factors than financial sustainability of senior entrepreneurship: (1) social connectedness as a means against social isolation, (2) personal self-confidence leading to social and psychological empowerment of the entrepreneurs, and (3) skills, knowledge, and experience that are also strengthening their human capital in the job market. Economic sustainability of the businesses established is not the primary goal in these undertakings. The article suggests that due to the three factors before mentioned that the notion of social innovation in senior entrepreneurship might best be understood as improving the well-being and quality of life of the entrepreneurs themselves. Senior entrepreneurship can be an adequate response to the challenges of the aging population. However, due to the low rates of unemployment, the idea of becoming a senior entrepreneur appears a little tempting.

A demographic snapshot of the IT workforce in Europe

A demographic snapshot of the IT workforce in Europe

Adaptability of the workforce in Europe – changing skills in the digital era

Digital technologies make significant impact on labor market, primarily by complementing or by substituting workers. This has triggered a change in the set of skills that are required from workers, by putting stronger focus on problemsolving skills, creativity, socioemotional skills, functional literacy and technical skills related to the use of digital technologies. The effects of digitalization on the labor market and economic performances of a particular country in the future depend on the workforce adaptability, industrial and occupational structure, the skills mix, organization of work and current state of digitalization. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the degree of workforce skills adaptability in 30 European countries, using the OECD data on achievement in reading, math and science, as well as the data on digital competencies, inclusion in lifelong learning and subjective perception on ability to find a new job. Our results suggest positive relationship between adaptability and PISA results. Using the principal component analysis, cluster analysis and LCCA (latent class cluster analysis), we find that European countries can be grouped into three clusters, in terms of adaptability: high performing (North and Western Europe), medium performing (Central Europe and Baltics) and low performing (South and South-eastern Europe). For some countries, low levels of adaptability of the workforce can pose an important obstacle for future growth and development.

The public health workforce in Europe

The public health workforce in Europe

Education and training in radioecology during the EU-COMET project—successes and suggestions for the future

The 2014 Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for Radioecology identified the key challenge in education and training (E&T) as being ‘to maintain and develop a skilled workforce in Europe and world-wide, through university candidates and professionals trained within radioecology’ since ‘scientific research in radioecology and application of that knowledge … requires scientists and workers with adequate competence and appropriate skills.’ Radioecology is a multidisciplinary science and E&T is needed by both students and professionals within research, industry and radiation protection. In order to address these needs, the EU COMET project has developed an E&T web platform and arranged a number of field courses, training courses, PhD and MSc courses, refresher courses and workshops, drawing on the COMET consortium to assemble relevant experts. In addition, COMET has been engaged in discussions with stakeholders for more long-term solutions to maintain the sustainability of radioecology E&T after the end of the project. Despite much progress in some areas, many of the challenges outlined in the 2014 SRA remain, mainly due to the lack of sustainable dedicated funding. Future plans within the ALLIANCE radioecology platform and the CONCERT-European Joint Programme for the Integration of Radiation Protection Research must urgently address this lack of sustainability if radioecological competence is to be maintained in Europe.

European Public Health NewsEUPHA President’s ColumnEUPHA Office ColumnEUPHA section column: nothing about me without me—a need for a new migrant health agendaMessage from the WHO Regional Director for Europe: European Member States agree to develop a roadmap to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable DevelopmentMessage from the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: EU action to support refugees’ and

In this last European public health news of 2016, we see a change in EUPHA presidency. Muscat introduces herself by highlighting the importance of a united public health workforce in Europe. Zeegers adds to this by announcing the 25th anniversary of EUPHA next year. In our EUPHA section column, Kumar and Krasnik reflect on the successful satellite conference organised in June 2016 in Oslo, Norway, where solutions on the migrant and refugee problems were discussed. Again, a unified and strong public health workforce is necessary. Jakab emphasizes that working towards health (leaving no one behind) also includes an intersectoral approach to health. Andriukaitis specifically looks at the challenges of the migrants and refugees problem and reminds us that ensuring integration and protecting against stigma and health inequalities remain our long-term priorities. Zeegers showcases the strong voice of public health by reflecting on the Vienna Declaration, signed by many of our partners and members. # EUPHA President’s Column {#article-title-2} Sitting to write the first of my contributions as the President of EUPHA has provided an opportunity for me to reflect upon my relationship with EUPHA and public health over a couple of decades. I first came into contact with EUPHA in 1999, when as a young and an inexperienced public health doctor I sought out membership for the newly established Malta Association of Public Health Medicine. I arrived in Prague not knowing anyone other than my former professor Martin McKee who had encouraged me to write up a paper for presentation. It was then I met Dineke Zeegers Paget. Dineke has been a constant, unassuming, but ever present motor behind this organisation. Emboldened by the fact that I could speak Italian, I plucked up courage and introduced myself to Walter Ricciardi. I relate this starting point in my journey with EUPHA since it may resonate … Correspondence : Allan Krasnik, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Oster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark, Tel: p4523321145, e-mail: alk{at}sund.ku.dk

Comparing trends in the job mix of the health workforce in Europe

Comparing trends in the job mix of the health workforce in Europe

Dietary and lifestyle habits and the associated health risks in shift workers.

Traditionally only a small proportion of the workforce was engaged in shift work. Changing economic pressures have resulted in increased engagement in shift work, with approximately 17 % of the workforce in Europe engaged in this work pattern. The present narrative review aimed to summarise the data on the effects of shift work on the diet, lifestyle and health of employees, while addressing the barriers to, and opportunities for, improving health among shift workers. Shift work can result in low-quality diet and irregular eating patterns. Adverse health behaviours are also reported; particularly increased smoking and poor sleep patterns. These altered lifestyle habits, in conjunction with disruption to circadian rhythms, can create an unfavourable metabolic phenotype which facilitates the development and progression of chronic disease. Although the data are inconclusive due to issues such as poor study design and inadequate control for confounding factors; shift workers appear to be at increased mental and physical health risk, particularly with regard to non-communicable diseases. Information is lacking on the obstacles to leading a healthier lifestyle while working shifts, and where opportunities lie for intervention and health promotion among this group. In order to provide an informed evidence base to assist shift workers in overcoming associated occupational hazards, this gap must be addressed. This review highlights the unique nutritional issues faced by shift workers, and the subsequent effect on health. In societies already burdened with increased incidence of non-communicable chronic diseases, there is a clear need for education and behaviour change interventions among this group.

One-Person Enterprises and Business Growth

Solopreneurs, i.e. entrepreneurs who run their businesses alone, are surprisingly common constituting some 15% of the work force in Europe and the United States. This study aims to clarify solopreneurs’ relationship to growth by analyzing the daily work of established solopreneurs from two different perspectives; how they perceive their well-being at work and how they perceive the development of their businesses. This research objective is addressed by using grounded theory methodology and thematic interviews. According to the findings of this study, solopreneurs follow a specific pattern in their activities that differentiates them from other entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur’s position as a solopreneur encourages him or her to continue alone. The feedback that solopreneurs receive from the environment directs them to focus on their personal professional skills rather than on business and growth. In addition, solopreneurs do not use networks to develop their businesses even though entrepreneurship literature highlights the importance of networks for business development. However, solopreneurs acknowledge the importance of networks for their personal well-being.

Alcohol training and alcohol habits of the medical students

Background The disease burden attributable to harmful use of alcohol is significant and in many countries public health problems caused by it represent a substantial health, social and economic concern. Across Europe, there is a clear gap in act the potential health interventions to reducing the alcohol harm. In primary health care settings, commonly fewer than 10% of people at risk of becoming hazardous and harmful drinkers are identified and fewer than 5% of those who could benefit from brief interventions are offered them. The health sector workforce in Europe is an enormous resource with great potential to affect positive change in alcohol-related diseases. Aims The level of alcohol training and alcohol habitsof the medical students in the University of Catania, Italy were investigated. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 5th year medical students was carried out. Students were recruited during lectures and a self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect alcohol training data. Alcohol habits were screened by the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Results A total of 170 students participated in the survey, aged between 22 and 30 years. 54.5% knows the meaning of "degree of alcohol". 72.0% knows the limit set by the highway code. 90.9% said that cannot recover from alcohol dependence syndrome. 15.9% of students think that a person must be an alcoholic to have health problems derived from alcohol. 80.3% of students know that drinking alcohol affects driving. The 87.9% know that alcohol causes intoxication stronger when mixed. 30% of the students are aware that in Italy the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited for children under 18 years. Harmful alcohol use was more prevalent among male (4.5%) than female students (3.0%).Hazardous drinking was found in 0.8% of studied subjects, more among men than women. Conclusions This study highlights the need for a greater and more relevant focus of alcohol education to medical students.

Scientific Legitimation of the European Union’s Competence Development Policy

This study provides an accessible account of the policy making process of the European Union in the arena of adult skills and competence development. In particular, the way skill standards for adult learners is designed in the EU official statements is investigated, analyzing the developments in the European Union’s adult education policies since the Lisbon process was launched in order to verify to what extent they are evidence-based and legitimated through scientific research and specific ex-ante studies. In fact, because of the ageing work force in Europe, but also in the light of the recent economic downturns and the increased labor market’s flexibility and dynamics, many governments have tried to foster the involvement and participation of adults in lifelong learning paths for them to suit the transformations of the knowledge-based societies and be active and competitive even in older ages. This empirical paper is based on literature review and content analysis of the relevant policy documents and official EU statements. The main findings show how, beyond declared purposes and political slogans, the way the EU is shaping the adult learners’ upskilling significantly appears to aim at the substantial bolstering of basic and digital skills in order to cope with the knowledge economy rather than giving emphasis to more comprehensive sets of competences for lifelong learning and active ageing, which are going to be needed more than ever in the years to come.

Core functions for the public health nutrition workforce in Europe: a consensus study.

To assess and develop a consensus among a European panel of public health nutrition workforce stakeholders (academics and employers) regarding core functions required for effective public health nutrition practice. A modified Delphi study involving data from two rounds of questionnaires administered among a panel of public health nutrition workforce stakeholders. Europe. A panel of fifty-three public health nutrition development stakeholders, including thirty-three academics and twenty employers, sampled from eighteen European countries. Panellists rated 50 % (19/38) of the initially listed functions as core (i.e. without which public health capacity is limited), using a majority cut-off (>50 %). Out of the nineteen core functions seven were categorised under the heading Intervention management, emphasising high agreement on the importance of managing interventions in public health nutrition work. Only one of the identified core public health nutrition functions was rated differently between academics and employers, suggesting consistent identification of core functions between stakeholder groups. This consensus on core functions of the public health nutrition workforce in Europe can be used to promote a consistent understanding of the role and value of public health nutritionists as a discrete disciplinary sub-specialty of the public health workforce. The convergence of opinions of academics and employers, as well as comparison with previous international studies, indicates that there is a set of core public health nutrition functions transferable between countries that can be used as a benchmark to guide further development of the public health nutrition workforce in Europe.

Lessons learned in developing community mental health care in Europe.

This paper summarizes the findings for the European Region of the WPA Task Force on Steps, Obstacles and Mistakes to Avoid in the Implementation of Community Mental Health Care. The article presents a description of the region, an overview of mental health policies and legislation, a summary of relevant research in the region, a precis of community mental health services, a discussion of the key lessons learned, and some recommendations for the future.

Editorial: Education for a Public Health Workforce in Europe and Globally

During the past century, public health has made major contributions to longer and better lives, through prevention and control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases and injuries, not only in industrialized nations but also worldwide. Public health, delivered through the organized efforts of society, benefitted from sanitation, food safety, new and improved vaccines, better nutrition, and successful health promotion that addressed many of the major causes of morbidity and mortality and an increasingly diverse array of public health challenges. One of the core functions of public health is to ensure an adequately organized, trained and supported workforce. In this issue, we address the educational context for training a multidisciplinary workforce to meet the needs of a public health community facing rapidly evolving responsibilities and challenges. Our objective is to promote discussion about effective policies on the public health workforce by governments, universities, schools, civil society, and the international health community, coupled with recognition of the centrality of this topic for their funding and development agendas. This is especially vital during a period of economic distress when there are cuts in public funding, even as threats to health are expanding as a consequence of increasingly global forces. The reviews and case reports in this issue show the diversity of experiences and identify some common themes for future development. Sharing the experience of different parts of the world in training public health workers will, we believe, promote analytic and constructive thinking and practices about curricula, competencies, bachelor’s level and postgraduate education, research needs, the role of government, professional and nongovernmental organizations, international accreditation and other important issues. This offers a basis for the coming decades to foster academic and practical environments that can provide a trained public health professional workforce in each country in Europe, and ultimately, globally.

Is Europe prepared to meet the oral health needs of older people?

To discuss the preparedness of the social and health care systems and the health workforce in Europe to manage the increasing general and oral health care needs of older adults. There are large inequalities across European countries and regions in the demographic, socioeconomic and health status of the elderly. The ageing of the population and the economic crisis put at risk the existing social and health care systems and are expected to further widen the existing inequalities. Despite the increase in funding for the general health care, public funding for dental care has reduced, limiting the access for the disadvantaged elderly. Dental care is isolated from health care policies and funding. At the same time there is a significant shortage of adequately trained personnel in the care of the elderly and a shortage of training opportunities particularly at a postgraduate and continuing education level. Immediate action is needed and appropriate strategies need to be implemented. Oral health prevention, delivery policies and funding should be integrated within the general health care system. Clinical protocols and guidelines need to be developed on the oral care of the elderly. Interdisciplinary training in the care of the elderly needs to be implemented for all health care workers (dentists, physicians, nurses, health care aids, social workers) at all education levels to enhance comprehensive care.

The Early Childhood Education Workforce in Europe Between Divergencies and Emergencies

AbstractAcross and beyond Europe, demographic, social and economic pressures both at the macro and the micro level are impacting on the work contexts of early childhood educators. Alongside heightened drives towards expansion and increasing regulation of the field, expectations are intensifying. Additionally, goals and targets for higher education and vocational education at the European policy level are generating restructurings of the national qualification systems for work in the early childhood field. In this dynamic context of change the SEEPRO (Early Education/care and Professionalisation in Europe) study, based at the State Institute of Early Childhood Research in Munich and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Family and Youth Affairs, set out to map the qualification requirements and workplace settings of early years practitioners in their country-specific context. Similarities and differences across the 27 countries of the European Union were documented and analysed. The findings of the study show considerable divergencies across Europe in terms of formal education and training requirements and the desired professional profiles for working with young children. Against this background of diversity, similarities in terms of workforce emergencies and challenges have also emerged: one is a common lack of truly flexible and inclusive pathways linked to formal professional recognition and status forallpractitioners in the field; another is the continuing need to seek more effective ways of including men in the early childhood workforce.