Since its launch in 2020, Eurofound's unique Living and Working in the EU e-survey has provided an overview of the ever-changing developments in living and working since the onset of the pandemic, through the recovery measures and during a time of constant change.
Living, working and COVID-19 in the EU and neighbouring countries e-survey 2022
While a continuation of previous Living, working and COVID-19 e-surveys, this fifth round of the e-survey provided a comprehensive snapshot of the impact of the pandemic on people’s lives across the EU and beyond. Running from March to May 2022, the e-survey aimed to equip policymakers with the insights necessary to bring about an equal recovery from the crisis. It also explores the reality of living in a new era of uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine, inflation and rising energy prices.
In parallel, the European Training Foundation (ETF) used a shortened questionnaire to field a pilot e-survey in 10 EU neighbouring countries. It provided the most up-to-date picture for policymakers as they respond to the challenges around recovering from the pandemic.
Round 5: This e-survey charted the latest developments, examining how life has changed in Europe after two long years of closures and restrictions.
Launched in the EU27 on 24 March until 3 May 2022, two years after COVID-19 was first detected in Europe and when society was in the process of gradually re-opening
Launched in EU neighbouring countries on 11 April until 8 May 2022
35,985 respondents aged 18+ in the 27 EU Member States and 18,461 respondents in 10 additional countries: Albania, Georgia, Jordan, Kosovo*, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, North Macedonia, Palestine** and Tunisia
E-survey among panellists and advertised on social media
Questionnaire comprised 160 questions, available in 22 EU official languages, plus Albanian, Arabic, Georgian, Macedonian, Russian and Serbian, with a module added on education and skills, and also covering views of the war in Ukraine
To display this data, use the filters below to select a question. Refine the results by selecting a country (or group of countries), apply additional filters (which vary throughout the surveys) or change the visualisation by selecting a preferred chart type.
Dashboard
Despite the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions across EU Member States by spring 2022, mental well-being levels remain lower than they were at the start of the pandemic. This could be attributed to the war in Ukraine for which 76% of respondents expressed high or very high concern.
The return to the workplace continued across the EU as public health restrictions were lifted and, by spring 2022, very few respondents still worked exclusively from home. However, respondents voice a clear preference for teleworking, implying that the return has not been entirely voluntary.
A clearer work-life balance has emerged in 2022, with fewer people working in their free time; however in terms of home life, workers have reported less time with family.
There continues to be widespread unmet healthcare needs in the EU, affecting almost one in five respondents (18%): the backlog in care is highest for hospital and specialist care.
With the rising cost of living, a considerable number of financially vulnerable households are at risk of energy poverty. 28% of respondents report living in a household with difficulties making ends meet and being in arrears with their utility bills.
During the pandemic, trust across all institutions has steadily fallen among e-survey respondents. Factors such as the war in Ukraine and the rise in inflation and energy appear to be exacerbating this trend. When social media is the preferred news source, trust plummets, with the biggest difference in trust apparent in news media and trust in government.
Unemployed respondents consistently reported lower trust in government and in the EU compared to the other groups, and trust is also lower among respondents living in households that have difficulties making ends meet. Respondents in financially more secure positions are becoming less trusting in the government, reflecting a more widespread dissatisfaction among the electorate.
Vaccine hesitancy is much higher among respondents who have low trust in institutions, who mainly get their news from social media or who do not follow the news at all. Vaccine-hesitant people appear to be an emerging group of citizens who are highly politically engaged.
2 December 2022
11 July 2022
9 May 2022
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
** This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual position of the Member States on this issue.
This section provides further information targeted in particular at researchers.
Methodology
The e-survey methodology is similar for all rounds of the survey.
Eurofound experts
You can contact the following experts for questions on the survey.
Eszter Sándor
Senior research managerEszter Sandor is a senior research manager in the Social Policies unit at Eurofound. She has extensive experience in survey management, including questionnaire design and scripting, data preparation (processing, cleaning, weighting), and statistical analysis using R. She manages Eurofound’s e-survey (Living and working in the EU) and contributes to the preparation and management of the European Quality of Life Survey. Her research focuses on the quality of life of young people and families, including subjective well-being, mental well-being and living conditions.
Before joining Eurofound, she worked as an economic consultant in Scotland, specialising in economic impact assessments, evaluations, and input-output analysis. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Budapest University of Economics and Business and a Master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Corvinus University of Budapest.
Daphne Ahrendt
Senior research managerDaphne Ahrendt is a senior research manager in the Social Policies unit at Eurofound. She is the coordinator of the survey management and development activity. In 2020, she initiated Eurofound’s Living and Working in the EU e-survey and now leads the 2026 European Quality of Life Survey, which she has worked on since the survey started in 2003. With over 30 years of experience in international survey research, she is also a member of the GESIS Scientific Advisory Board. Beyond surveys, her substantive research focuses on social cohesion, trust and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. Daphne started her career at the National Centre for Social Research in London where she worked on the International Social Survey Programme before moving to the Eurobarometer Unit at the European Commission. She holds a Master's degree in Criminal Justice Policies from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University.
