WP1 ensures that WeLaR’s goals are achieved with high quality, on time and within budget. The work includes ensuring smooth and successful implementation of the project and efficient financial and administrative management.

This work package also aims to ensure quality review and timely delivery of all project deliverables. It will set out coordination of data management, implementation of the management and governance structure and organisation of project meetings. The package also includes all communication, consultations, reporting and negotiations with the European Commission.

Work Package 2 establishes a common framework and protocols for setting up a joint infrastructure for a broader research and policy community. Work included an evaluation of lessons learnt from previous and ongoing European projects, a thorough review of the current state-of-the-art literature and the development of possible future projections and scenarios.

Partners developed protocols for both qualitative and quantitative research, taking into account ethics, privacy and the GDPR. A common research infrastructure was established to collect, clean, and process data in an integrated manner, ensuring consistency across working groups.

WP3 had several objectives related to how megatrends impact the labour market participation, mental health, and overall well-being of individuals. The first objective was to quantify this impact, while the second objective is to zoom in on groups of workers who are particularly vulnerable to these changes. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on teleworkers’ outcomes, and WP3 aimed to draw lessons from this experience as a third objective. The fourth objective was to determine the impact on individuals based on their specific characteristics as employees. Finally, WP3 evaluated the role of different institutional and policy settings in national labour markets that contribute to the heterogeneous nature of the impact of megatrends. By meeting these objectives, WP3 generated important insights into the complex interplay between megatrends and the labour market, which can help inform policies and interventions to support individuals’ well-being and workforce participation.

The primary objective of WP4 was to investigate the impact of key megatrends on labour demand and skills for various groups of people. This investigation assessed the consequences for welfare state coverage and the resulting challenges for welfare states that arise from changing exposure to economic and social risks. A second objective was to examine the issues associated with atypical jobs and the challenges they pose to welfare states. Atypical jobs have a higher risk of job displacement due to temporary contracts, and they typically have lower coverage by safety nets such as those provided by platform work or “bogus” self-employment compared to standard forms of employment. By investigating these objectives, WP4 provides insights into the implications of megatrends on the labour market and welfare state coverage, which can inform policy decisions to address the challenges posed by these changes.

WP5 had a specific goal of analysing the impact of megatrends on labour supply and labour demand, specifically in relation to the matching mechanisms and outcomes. It explored how these mechanisms and outcomes are moderated by institutional and policy settings related to labour and product markets, as well as welfare state systems.  The WP5 also identified which institutional and policy settings are associated with specific probabilities, including the likelihood of flowing in and out of various employment statuses, such as employed, unemployed, or out of the labour force. Another area of focus is the likelihood of flowing in and out of low-quality jobs, such as those in the low-wage segment, underemployment, or jobs that are only partially covered by the social security system, such as atypical employment. By exploring these factors, WP5 provides insights into the impact of megatrends on labour markets and how institutional and policy settings can moderate these impacts.

WP6 identified megatrends creating challenges for the welfare state and public finances. It had several objectives, including quantifying how key megatrends affect public finances by examining changes in social security contributions, tax revenue, and social security system coverage, as well as projecting these changes for the future. Another objective was to assess the demand for and necessity of new forms of social security. Additionally, WP6 aimed to evaluate the fiscal and distributional effects of welfare state adjustments due to key megatrends, with a focus on increasing coverage of new forms of employment and vulnerable groups. Finally, WP6 provided evidence-based policy recommendations on welfare states. 

WP7 is a critical part of the research project that aims to bring together knowledge from different sources and integrate it into a coherent whole. The primary objective of WP7 is to merge the information generated from the various research tasks in WPs 3-6 and other relevant sources, both inside and outside the project.

To achieve this, WP7 has six key goals. Firstly, it aims to synthesize the results of the quantitative and qualitative research conducted in WPs 3-6. Secondly, it will review existing and emerging policy fields and identify best practices, including social innovation, that can inform policy recommendations. Thirdly, WP7 will assess the preferences for redistribution among the general public and platform workers to understand the perceptions of different groups on welfare and employment policies. Fourthly, WP7 will explore the long-term impacts of megatrends through a scenario-building exercise with stakeholders. This exercise will help understand the potential effects of the megatrends in the future, and how policy measures can be taken to mitigate them. Fifthly, WP7 will formulate and validate policy conclusions and recommendations based on project research.

Finally, WP7 will explore and propose relevant areas and opportunities for capacity building. This involves identifying training and educational programs that can help policymakers and stakeholders better understand and address the challenges posed by megatrends. Overall, WP7 plays a crucial role in the research project by bringing together knowledge, generating insights, and proposing policy recommendations to address the challenges of the changing world of work.

The goal of this work package is to maximise the relevance and impact of the WeLaR project and to engage, involve, and gather insights from a community of stakeholders at various levels.

WP8 will develop a stakeholder engagement framework and strategy that will enable the development of project discourse. A series of workshops, webinars and open virtual cafés will be organised to familiarise stakeholders with the project framework.

The workshops will focus on the following topics:

• Labour market supply: what policies can encourage labour market participation and ensure that no one is left behind?
• Labour market demand: economic and social risks;
• Matching labour supply and demand: the role of regulations, unions and income support policies;
• Adapting welfare states to new challenges while ensuring their long-run financial sustainability;
• Foresight workshop.

This work package aims to raise awareness of the project and its results among policy makers, researchers, stakeholders, the general public and the media. The main objectives are to ensure effective communication and sharing of results between partners and dissemination of research results within the European research community.

Experts, media, employers and citizens will have access to project results through the WeLaR project website. In addition, a series of events and conferences will be organised, and key members of the WeLaR scientific community and stakeholders will be invited to participate in the debate. Project-related news and important information will be posted on the website and social media.