EGRUiEN researchers share insights on AI, green transition, and the future of work
Members of our consortium have participated in a series of international conferences and expert workshops over the past few months. These events provided an opportunity to present their current research, exchange knowledge, and participate in debates on how digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), and the green transition are changing the nature of work and employment in Europe.
Work in the Era of Unruly AI – Turku, Finland
On 20–22 August 2025, Sarah Tornberg attended the WORK2025 hybrid conference at the University of Turku, organized by the Turku Centre of Labour Studies (TCLS). The event focused on "Work in the Era of Unruly AI" and attracted participants from a wide range of disciplines and career stages. Keynote speakers and parallel sessions examined the implications of AI adoption in work environments from economic, social, and organisational perspectives.
Sarah presented her paper draft in the session "Labour Reallocation, Policy and Welfare". Her research analyses cases of abrupt structural change in Finland and investigates how worker and employer representatives negotiated during large-scale layoffs. By drawing lessons from these cases, the paper aims to inform future negotiations between social partners in the context of digitalisation and the green transition. The presentation prompted a lively discussion and generated valuable feedback from the audience.
Measuring Green Employment in the EU – Brussels, Belgium
On 27 June 2025, Fabio Landini and Marta Fana (University of Parma) participated in the Expert Workshop “The Employment Dimension of the Green Economy: Assessment, New Metrics, and Evidence on Green Jobs in the EU.” This workshop was jointly organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) as part of the GreenJobs project.
The event built on an earlier workshop held in 2024 and focused on developing more accurate indicators and measurement techniques for green employment. Fabio presented “A Review of Alternative Measures to Green Employment,” while Marta introduced “A Proposal for the Estimation of Green Employment Using Firm-Level Data.” Both contributions supported the ongoing EU-level effort to better capture and understand the employment implications of the green transition.
Law and Political Economy in Europe – Rotterdam, the Netherlands
From 2–4 June 2025, Davide Bisi (University of Parma) attended the Law and Political Economy (LPE) Summer Academy 2025 at Erasmus University Rotterdam. This third edition of the Summer Academy (following Berlin 2023 and Glasgow 2024) brought together doctoral researchers, early-career scholars, and senior academics to explore how the LPE approach can address crises linked to digitalisation, social inequality, and climate change.
Davide presented his paper “Workplace AI Technologies and Employee Voice in Europe,” which examines the role of employee representation in shaping the adoption of workplace AI. The findings suggest that workplace representation may facilitate, rather than hinder, responsible technological change, particularly in countries with strong co-determination systems. Participants also visited the Port of Rotterdam, one of the world’s most technologically advanced ports, gaining comparative insights for the EGRUiEN project’s forthcoming historical case study on institutional reforms in the ports of Genoa and Trieste (Task 2.2).
Platform Work in Estonia – Tallinn, Estonia
On 9 May 2025, Kairit Kall (Tallinn University) took part in the Yearly Conference of Estonian Social Scientists (ESAK) at Tallinn University of Technology. She contributed to the session “The Impact and Future of Platform Work in Estonia,” presenting previous research on the lack of collective action among platform taxi drivers in Tallinn and Berlin. Kairit also introduced the EGRUiEN project’s objectives concerning platform work and on-demand transport, fostering discussion on digital labour and employment relations in Estonia.
Through these diverse activities, EGRUiEN researchers are contributing to a more nuanced understanding of how technological and ecological transformations are reshaping the world of work. Participation in international events helps bridge research, policy, and practice - supporting evidence-based solutions for the future of employment in Europe.