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Directorate
Maria Jepsen
Maria Jepsen is Eurofound’s Deputy Director, appointed on 1 November 2019. She coordinates the Agency’s programme development. Prior to this, she was Director of the research department at the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), and assistant professor and research fellow at the Free University of Brussels (ULB). She is currently also associate professor in labour economics at ULB and external lecturer at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. Her main research interests include gender studies, the impact of welfare states on labour supply, wages and working conditions, and the development of the European social dimension. Ms Jepsen has been a member of various committees, councils and advisory boards at national and international level on employment, social, gender and research issues. She has also served as a coordinator on the European Commission tripartite advisory committee on health and safety at work. She holds a PhD in Economics and a Master’s degree in Econometrics from the Free University of Brussels (ULB).
Events, podcast and blog
Maria has contributed the following events, blog posts and podcast episodes.
Online event
Own event
Virtual Visit to Greece: Minimum wages - What next?
Presentation slides now available!
DateTuesday, 30 June 2026
LocationOnline
This event is in the past
In-person event
Own event
Competitiveness and inclusion in a new geopolitical era: Prosperity for all?
Watch the recording
DateTuesday, 30 September 2025
Time09:00 (Europe/Brussels)
LocationBrussels
This event is in the past
7 March 2025
Podcast episode
What is the future for gender equality in Europe?
This special episode of Eurofound Talks, recorded for International Women’s Day 2025, looks at women’s progress in the labour market and society over the past five decades, as well as sticking points on the path to gender equality in Europe, particularly related to the gender employment and pay gaps. Eurofound Head of Unit for Information and Communication Mary McCaughey speaks with Maria Jepsen, Eurofound Deputy Director, and Carlien Scheele, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).
30 January 2025
Podcast episode
50 years of social change in Ireland and Europe
In this episode of the Eurofound Talks podcast Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound Deputy Director Maria Jepsen, and Barry Colfer, Director of Research at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), about European social change over the past 50 years, Eurofound’s role in these changes, how Ireland itself has developed and changed, and the challenges currently on the horizon.
Hybrid event
Joint event
DRAFT Foundation Forum 2025: Europe’s social model – the key to competitive growth
Date19 – 20 November 2025
LocationDublin
This event is in the past
In-person event
Joint event
Foundation Forum 2025: Europe’s social model – the key to competitive growth
Event recording available
Date19 – 20 November 2025
LocationDublin
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This event is in the past
2 May 2024
Blog post
Just transition? It’s not that simple
Part of the blog series: '10 reasons to Use Your Vote'
9 May 2022
Podcast episode
Living and working in Europe: Past, present and future
This podcast focuses on our annual update on the state of ‘Living and working in Europe’. It highlights trends and changes – both positive and negative – in the way citizens across the EU work today, and serves as a guide to policymakers at EU and Member State level. Our experts detail these with useful examples and insights which might also help face into the challenges raised by the most recent results from Eurofound’s unique pan-European Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey.
7 March 2022
Podcast episode
Gender equality
Women were just beginning to see the fruits of progress in gender equality over many years when the Great Recession hit, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the most recent results from Eurofound’s unique pan-European Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey reveal women again among the top losers as a result. This podcast, launched on International Women’s Day this year in conjunction with the European Institute for Gender Equality, debates issues related to closing the gender gaps across pay, employment and caring, and explores innovative options to promote change.
4 May 2021
Blog post
COVID-19 could be a catalyst for fundamental change that will define the Future of Europe
On 9 May, the Conference on the Future of Europe will get underway. Floated well before the COVID-19 outbreak, its timing in the wake of the seismic shifts precipitated by the pandemic, and its implementation alongside the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, means that the outcomes could be far-reaching.
28 April 2021
Blog post
Good news for gender equality as we exit the COVID-19 crisis?
The pandemic has had differential impacts on women. Raised consciousness about them must be applied to advance gender equality in recovery measures. All crises have a strongly gendered impact and none more so than the current pandemic, across a range of indicators. While the virus itself seems to take a greater toll on men than women when it comes to fatalities, women appear to have been worse affected in terms of labour market impact.
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Documents
The following documents are available for download.
