10. Jan 2025

The WeLaR project invites contributions on the effects of global trends on European labour markets and welfare states.

The Horizon Europe project WeLaR hosts its final conference on June 12, 2025 in Brussels to explore how digitalisation, globalisation, demographic shifts, and climate change are driving structural transformations in the labour market, including changes in skills demand and supply, job quality, and working conditions. Additionally, we will examine the social implications of these trends, such as their effects on inequality and well-being. We will also address the influence of these four megatrends on welfare states, including shifts in preferences for social protection and implications for public finance.

Researchers from all social science fields are invited to contribute and participate. Both quantitative and qualitative studies are welcome. We strongly encourage contributions from PhD students and early-career academics. A poster session will be held as well, with a prize awarded to the winner. If you submit a poster contribution, please mention it clearly in your email. Please e-mail contributions to Laurène Thil (laurene.thil@kuleuven.be) by March 14th, 2025. The full call for papers can be downloaded below.

We welcome contributions addressing the implications of digitalisation, globalisation, climate change, and demographic shifts on various aspects, encompassing but not limited to:

• Heterogenous labour market and distributional impacts of these megatrends
• Work-related migration and skills
• Spatial convergence / divergence
• Inequalities and intersectionality
• Technology, skills and human capital
• EU economic governance, trade
• Social policy, social protection systems

Covering the combined impact of two or more of the driving forces – digitalisation, globalisation, climate change and demographic shifts – is considered an added value.

Downloads:

Verwandte Artikel:

• Projekt: Welfare systems and labour market policies for economic and social resilience in Europe