Increase in employment quality over past five years
Published: 5 October 2008
In May 2008, the Regional Quantitative Analysis Group in the Research Institute of Applied Economics (Grup de Recerca Anàlisi Quantitativa Regional, Institut de Recerca d’Economia Aplicada, AQR-IREA [1]) at the University of Barcelona, in collaboration with the recruitment company Manpower Professional [2], published the Manpower Study on Labour Quality (in Spanish, 1.23Mb PDF) [3], which covers the period 2001–2006. This study uses the Labour Quality Index (LQI) to provide information on the situation and evolution of the issue of ‘work quality’. The LQI has been defined according to a system of statistical indicators that allow for the evaluation of the multidimensional concept of work quality, following the guidelines suggested by the Communication from the European Commission ‘Employment and social policies: a framework for investing in quality (137Kb PDF) [4]’ (COM(2001) 313 final). Moreover, the LQI takes into account a total of 70 statistical indicators grouped under the following 10 quality dimensions suggested by the Commission:[1] http://www.ub.es/dpees/aqr/[2] http://www.manpowerprofessional.es/Pub/content.asp?ref=AZUL&noderef=home&langid=es[3] http://129.35.74.13/Img/5FB7198B2B8D48E2A607BCFC4C1EB8BA.pdf[4] http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/employment_analysis/com2001_0313_en.pdf
A recent study shows that the quality of work in Spain has improved over the period 2001–2006, especially on issues related to gender equality, inclusion and access to the labour market, as well as diversity and non-discrimination. The study also reveals that this improvement is particularly beneficial to those economic sectors and occupational categories that are traditionally more disadvantaged, resulting in a positive convergence process.
About the study
In May 2008, the Regional Quantitative Analysis Group in the Research Institute of Applied Economics (Grup de Recerca Anàlisi Quantitativa Regional, Institut de Recerca d’Economia Aplicada, AQR-IREA) at the University of Barcelona, in collaboration with the recruitment company Manpower Professional, published the Manpower Study on Labour Quality (in Spanish, 1.23Mb PDF), which covers the period 2001–2006. This study uses the Labour Quality Index (LQI) to provide information on the situation and evolution of the issue of ‘work quality’. The LQI has been defined according to a system of statistical indicators that allow for the evaluation of the multidimensional concept of work quality, following the guidelines suggested by the Communication from the European Commission ‘Employment and social policies: a framework for investing in quality (137Kb PDF)’ (COM(2001) 313 final). Moreover, the LQI takes into account a total of 70 statistical indicators grouped under the following 10 quality dimensions suggested by the Commission:
intrinsic job quality;
skills, lifelong learning and career development;
health and safety at work;
flexibility and security;
inclusion and access to the labour market;
work organisation and work-life balance;
social dialogue and worker involvement;
diversity and non-discrimination;
overall economic performance and productivity.
Improvement in most dimensions of work quality
According to the report, in 2006, the Spanish average LQI stood at 109.6, reflecting an increase in this index of 9.6% during the five-year period 2001–2006. The quality dimensions that have shown the highest improvements include ‘gender equality’, ‘inclusion and access to the labour market’ and ‘diversity and non-discrimination’ (see figure). Other dimensions such as ‘social dialogue and worker involvement’, ‘health and safety at work’, ‘skills, lifelong learning and career development’, ‘flexibility and security’ and ‘work organisation and work–life balance’ have recorded positive increases, although smaller than the national average. By way of contrast, two categories have experienced a decline since 2001: ‘intrinsic job quality’ and ‘overall economic performance and productivity’.
Quality of labour, by growth of dimension, 2001–2006 (%)
Source: Manpower Study on Labour Quality, 2007
Quality of labour, by growth of dimension, 2001–2006
Differences emerge between autonomous communities
The Spanish autonomous communities or regions that recorded the highest LQI in 2006 included the Balearic Islands off the east coast of Spain (130.1), Rioja in the north of the country (119.9) and Catalonia in the northeast (119.3), followed by Murcia in the southeast (117.1), the central region of Madrid (115.4) and Aragon in the north (115.1). By way of contrast, the poorest performance results were recorded in relation to Asturias in the northwest (98.2), Andalusia in the south (97.6) and the central region of Castile-La Mancha (95.7).
The LQI has increased in all of the Spanish regions from 2001 to 2006, particularly in Castile-Leon in the northwest (21%), Extremadura in the west (19.4%) and Rioja (17%). Meanwhile, the autonomous communities or regions with the lowest increases include Navarre in the north (5.9%), Madrid (5.9%) and the Basque region in the north (3%).
Labour quality increases in all economic sectors
The Spanish economic sectors where the LQI was above the national average in 2006 include financial services (132.5), energy, chemical, rubber and metallurgy (126.5), machinery, electrical and transport materials (117.6), public administration, education and health services (116.7) and transport and communications (110.6). On the other hand, areas of economic activity with a lower than national average LQI are food, textiles, wood and paper industries (104.4), agriculture, cattle raising and fishing activities (101.8), other collective services (99.2), commerce and hotels and restaurants (99.2), and construction (98.2).
The LQI has increased over the period 2001–2006 in all economic sectors, particularly in some of those activities with the lowest indexes, such as construction, other collective services, as well as agriculture, cattle raising and fishing activities. Therefore, a convergence process in terms of labour quality has taken place among the different sectors of the economy.
Effect of occupational category and company size
The occupational category with the highest LQI corresponds to managers and professionals, where the index (122.8) is 15.9 points above that for technicians and qualified workers (106.9) and 18.8 points higher than the index for non-qualified workers and operators (104). Meanwhile, those workers employed in large companies enjoy the highest LQI (123.2), followed by those employed in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (105.2) and self-employed people (104.9).
From a time perspective, a convergence process among occupational categories and by company size can be identified, as non-qualified workers and operators, and the employees of SMEs are actually the two groups that experience the highest increase in their LQI.
Commentary
The results of the study show a general improvement in the LQI over 2001–2006, especially on issues related to gender equality, inclusion and access to the labour market, as well as diversity and non-discrimination. The results also show a certain degree of convergence in the LQI, particularly among economic sectors, occupational categories and enterprises of various sizes.
Iñigo Isusi, IKEI Research and Consultancy
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2008), Increase in employment quality over past five years, article.
