UE-OSHA - Increasing labour shortages in Europe: key considerations for occupational safety and health policy and practices Discussion paper, april 2026

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

Mikkel Barslund, Karolien Lenaerts

INCREASING LABOUR SHORTAGES IN EUROPE: KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH POLICY AND PRACTICES

DISCUSSION PAPER

CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Labour shortages in Europe
3. Drivers of labour shortages
4. Implications of labour shortages, with a focus on OSH
    4.1 Labour shortages, quality of work and worker outcomes
    4.2 Labour shortages and OSH risk prevention and management
5. Policies and strategies aimed at tackling labour shortages and their OSH implications
    5.1 EU initiatives to address labour shortages
    5.2 The importance of OSH consideration in labour shortage responses
6. Concluding remarks

© European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2026
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

fonte: osha.europa.eu