Safeguarding work in Europe: Exploring national dynamics of job security across ages

Employment is a cornerstone of economic stability, social connectivity, and quality of life, particularly for older adults. This study offers a comparative analysis of labor participation, employment status, and job characteristics across European countries, focusing on younger, middle-aged, and older workers. It examines perceived job security—the sense of safety from being laid off—and explores how country-level factors, such as work conditions, skills, and macro-level institutional and economic variables, influence job security among age groups. Using data from sources like Eurostat, ILO, OECD, and the European Working Condition Survey (EWCS), the study integrates descriptive statistics and econometric models. Findings aim to clarify the role of socio-economic contexts in shaping job security and inform targeted policies, including welfare, training, and outplacement services, to support workforce integration and job retention, particularly for older workers vulnerable to job insecurity.