New rules for EU labour market statistics

In brief

On 6 May 2025, the European Parliament adopted a new regulation modernising the collection and publication of labour market statistics in the European Union. This text replaces three older regulations and aims to provide more accurate, more frequent and better adapted data for businesses and citizens.

Background

Labour market statistics are essential for understanding employment, wages, labour costs and working conditions in the EU. Until now, these data were collected under rules dating from 1999, 2003 and 2008. With the evolution of the world of work (teleworking, digital platforms, new types of contracts), these rules had become obsolete. The European Commission therefore proposed a complete overhaul in 2023.

What was decided

Parliament approved the Council's position (the Member States) without amendment. The new regulation:

• Repeals Regulations (EC) No 530/1999, (EC) No 450/2003 and (EC) No 453/2008.
• Harmonises definitions and methods for collecting data on employment, labour costs and wages.
• Improves frequency: some data will have to be provided every quarter instead of once a year.
• Includes new variables such as teleworking, temporary work and zero-hour contracts.
• Reduces administrative burden for businesses by making greater use of existing administrative sources (social security files, etc.).

Vote result

The text was adopted by MEPs during the plenary session of 6 May 2025. It was an approval without a roll-call vote (show of hands or tacit approval). The regulation will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.

For citizens

In practical terms, this new regulation will allow citizens, businesses and decision-makers to have more reliable and up-to-date data on the labour market. For example, it will be easier to compare wages or labour costs between EU countries, or to track the evolution of teleworking. Businesses, especially SMEs, will see their reporting obligations simplified, as statistical authorities will be able to use data already collected by national administrations. Finally, these improved statistics will help the EU better target its employment and social cohesion policies.