This week I am attending a joint union and employer meeting in Prague between the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM), where representatives from across Europe are examining the growing staffing challenges facing healthcare services across the EU.
A key focus of the discussions was the impact of an ageing workforce and the urgent need for governments and employers to invest in healthcare employment to ensure a sustainable workforce supply across Europe.
Healthcare already accounts for up to 13% of employment in some European countries and approximately 9% of the workforce in Ireland, underlining the sector’s critical importance to society and the economy.
Kevin Figgis, SIPTU Health Divisional Head said: “Participants examined how demographic changes require a direct response from employers, including more flexible and adaptable working arrangements, safer and healthier workplaces, and a stronger commitment to lifelong learning and skills development. There was broad agreement that healthcare systems must both attract new workers into the profession and support experienced staff to remain in employment for as long as they wish.”
A particularly striking finding of the international conference was that Ireland has the highest reliance on internationally recruited nurses in the European Union.
With the International Labour Organisation estimating that there are approximately 167 million migrant workers globally, discussions highlighted the need to build stronger domestic workforce capacity while ensuring ethical recruitment practices.
The meeting also explored many of the challenges driving staff shortages, including insecure employment, excessive workloads, fatigue and burnout, limited career progression opportunities, workplace violence and harassment, gender inequality, and the lack of meaningful worker involvement in decision-making.
The ILO pointed to recent research which showed that 61% of healthcare workers surveyed reported burnout, 38% experienced anxiety, 34% experienced depression, and significant numbers reported workplace violence and harassment.
Figgis added: “The clear message emerging from the discussions was that decent work is the foundation of quality public healthcare. This requires adequate pay, secure direct employment, safe staffing levels, healthy workplaces, opportunities for career development, and meaningful worker voice. Participants also highlighted wider societal challenges, including housing affordability and the cost-of-living crisis, which are increasingly affecting healthcare recruitment and retention.”
The growing role of artificial intelligence was also discussed. While technology can support healthcare delivery, there was strong agreement that healthcare must remain human-led, with technology assisting workers rather than replacing them.
These discussions reinforce many of the issues SIPTU continues to raise on behalf of health workers in Ireland and underline the importance of continued investment in staffing, training, retention, and quality public services.