In this episode Mary McCaughey is joined by senior researcher Eszter Sandor to discuss the results of the 2025 Living and Working in the EU e-survey.

While headline inflation has stabilised at 2.1%, the survey data reveal a continent gripped by chronic precariousness, with 57% of Europeans now at risk of depression and a widening resilience gap between low-income households and those that are better off.

As policymakers, social partners and civil society prepare for the European Employment and Social Rights Forum in Brussels on 3-4 March, Eszter and Mary look at the actions that could be taken to respond to rising social challenges.

In this episode of Eurofound Talks Mary McCaughey is joined by Marie Hyland to discuss the latest research on housing issues for Europe’s youth. They explore why property prices and rents have outpaced wages since 2010, leaving many young adults unable to achieve independence.

The conversation covers the stark reality of the rental market, where securing a starter flat in some regions now requires more than a full median income.

From the rise of boomerang children to the role of the new European Commissioner for Housing, this episode examines how to restore affordability for a generation.

In an era where public trust is paramount, the latest episode of the Eurofound Talks looks at the mechanisms that keep the European Union transparent and fiscally responsible.

Host Mary McCaughey sits down with Tony Murphy, President of the European Court of Auditors, to discuss the critical role of financial oversight in safeguarding the European project. They also discuss the importance of Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

In this episode, Mary McCaughey speaks with Martina Bisello, Expert on Sustainability Transitions and Justice at the European Environment Agency, and Jorge Cabrita, Senior Research Manager at Eurofound, about the role of green jobs in Europe’s economic, social and environmental future.

They discuss how tackling climate change is not merely an environmental policy goal but a fundamental necessity for maintaining job quality and economic stability across Europe.

This episode of Eurofound Talks looks at why Europe has experienced a more profound slowdown in growth compared to other developed regions, and why greater labour input and higher human capital has not translated into higher output per worker.

Mary McCaughey and John Hurley also discuss whether Europe can, and should, look to compete with countries such as the United States and China in the race to harness artificial intelligence.

This episode looks at whether AI is making work safer in Europe.

Mary McCaughey speaks with Dragoș Adăscăliței, Research Officer at Eurofound, and Ioannis Anyfantis, Project Manager at the European Agency for Occupational Safety and Health (EU OSHA) about how AI deployment is influencing workers health, how AI policy in Europe compares to global competitors, and the decisions around AI that need to be made at EU, national and company level.

This episode of Eurofound Talks, published on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, looks in-depth at Europe’s wealth divide. Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound researchers Carlos Vacas and Eszter Sandor about how wealth inequality remains as intractable as ever – despite positive developments in recent years on wages and improvements in general working conditions.

Mental health in Europe is at a critical crossroads. While some indicators have improved since the pandemic, a new Eurofound report reveals concerning trends, including an alarming halt to the decades-long decline in suicide rates.

This episode of Eurofound Talks explores this complex issue, highlighting that poor mental health is disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups.

The conversation also tackles the double-edged sword of digitalisation and the significant barriers to mental healthcare, such as stigma and long waiting lists, that leave many without the support they desperately need.

This episode examines the evolving landscape of European working conditions, situated at the nexus of profound technological transformation.

Mary McCaughey speaks with Barbara Gerstenberger, Eurofound's Head of Unit for Working Life, who leverages insights from the 35-year history of the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS). This survey series offers agranular perspective on the longitudinal shifts in European labour.

The discussion assesses how artificial intelligence and digitalisation are reshaping employment, drawing parallels with historical industrial shifts, while acknowledging the continuous adaptive capacity of the world of work.

In this episode Mary McCaughey sits down with Eurofound expert Carlos Vacas Soriano to explore how minimum wages have changed in Europe over the past year, as well as the implications of these shifts.

Listeners are invited to dive into the intricacies of Europe's minimum wage dynamics and the factors driving these changes. The conversation also sheds light on the broader implications of minimum wage change for income inequalities and gender equality.