PRESS RELEASE

CoLABOR discusses socioeconomic dynamics, labor, and local government

CoLABOR – the Collaborative Laboratory for Work, Employment, and Social Protection – will hold the 6th edition of the CoLABOR 2025 Conference, an annual event aimed at promoting debate on current and relevant topics in the areas of labor, employment, and social protection, as well as sharing the main results achieved by the research team over the past year.

Under the theme “Socioeconomic Dynamics, Labor, and Local Government,” the conference brings together researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations, and representatives from the public sector to present new data, foster critical reflection, and discuss priorities for the future of social and labor policies in Portugal.

The morning session will feature the presentation of the latest 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 changes in green and brown jobs, the differentiated effects of the climate transition on sectors and regions, and the respective implications for inequalities. The publication also delves into three structural areas, based on the most recent data: the economic context and labor market, job quality and inequalities, and social protection.

Also this morning, the session “Data Use and Availability: Evidence-Based Policies and Strategies” will take place, during which CoLABOR will present the various information dissemination tools it has been developing, in dialogue with representatives from data-producing and data-using organizations. The discussion 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 devoted to two thematic roundtables. The first, “Labor and Anti-Poverty Policies, ” will discuss the main political and institutional obstacles that hinder the integration of labor and social policies, while also analyzing the role of labor unions, businesses, local governments, academia, and civil society in developing more effective responses. Strategies will also be discussed 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 practices and integration within companies—and will analyze public policies and institutional and corporate initiatives that can promote the recognition of skills and the active participation of this population in the labor market, both at the national and local levels.

By bringing together experts, decision-makers, and local stakeholders, the CoLABOR 2025 Conference aims to foster a collective discussion on the challenges shaping the future of work and social protection, grounded in the generation of rigorous and practical knowledge.

About CoLABOR

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

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