PRESS RELEASE

CoLABOR discusses socioeconomic dynamics, work, and local power

CoLABOR – the Collaborative Laboratory for Work, Employment and Social Protection – will hold the 6th edition of the CoLABOR 2025 Conference on November 26th at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation . This annual meeting aims to promote discussion on current and relevant topics in the areas of work, employment and social protection, as well as to share the main results achieved by the research team over the past year.

Under the theme "Socioeconomic dynamics, work and local power", the Conference brings together researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations and representatives of the public sector to present new data, promote critical reflection and discuss priorities for the future of social and labor policies in Portugal.

The morning session is marked by the presentation of the new edition of CoLABOR's annual publication, Work, Employment and Social Protection 2025, dedicated to the theme "The unequal impacts of the climate transition on employment". The report analyzes the transformations in green and brown jobs, the differentiated effects of the climate transition on sectors and territories, and their implications for inequalities. The publication also delves into three structural areas, based on the most recent data: economic context and labor market, job quality and inequalities, and social protection.

Later in the morning, the session “Use and availability of data: evidence-based policies and strategies”, where CoLABOR will present the various information dissemination tools it has been developing, in dialogue with representatives of data producers and users. The debate will focus on the importance of accessible, accurate, and interoperable information for the design, monitoring, and evaluation of effective public policies.

The afternoon will be dedicated to two thematic roundtables. The first, "Work and policies to combat poverty," will discuss the main political and institutional obstacles that hinder the integration between labor policies and social policies, also analyzing the role of unions, companies, local authorities, academia, and civil society in building more effective responses. Strategies will also be debated to ensure that, in a context of technological and ecological transition, new forms of work do not become new forms of vulnerability.

The second roundtable, "Integration of the immigrant population into the labor market," will address the barriers and opportunities in the professional integration of immigrants—from the recognition of qualifications to recruitment and integration practices in companies—and will analyze public policies and institutional and business initiatives that can promote the appreciation of skills and the active participation of this population in the labor market, both nationally and locally.

By bringing together experts, decision-makers, and stakeholders from the region, the CoLABOR 2025 Conference aims to promote collective reflection on the challenges shaping the future of work and social protection, supported by the production of rigorous and applicable knowledge.

‍About CoLABOR

CoLABOR is a collaborative laboratory dedicated to applied research and knowledge transfer in the areas of work, employment, technology, and social protection, promoting evidence-based public policies and contributing to a more just, inclusive, and sustainable development.

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