An updated data visualisation tool from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) reveals a mixed picture: employees are less often involved in tackling psychosocial risks, while digitalisation is increasingly becoming a topic of workplace consultation. The tool compares three editions of the European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER) – from 2014, 2019 and 2024.
Less input on psychosocial risks
The share of workplaces where employees are involved in designing measures against psychosocial risks fell from 61% in 2019 to 55% in 2024. Labour inspectorate visits are also showing a downward trend, according to EU-OSHA. At the same time, a quarter of surveyed organisations say they do not recognise psychosocial risks as a concern, and 21% of companies that do identify these risks find them harder to manage than other occupational risks. Companies in the Nordic countries are more likely to find psychosocial risks difficult to manage: 38% in Sweden and 37% in Denmark, compared with a European average of 21%.
Digitalisation climbs the agenda
While employee input on psychosocial risks is declining, it is growing around digital technology. The share of companies consulting employees on the health and safety effects of digitalisation rose from 24% in 2019 to 35% in 2024 (among companies using digital technology). Risk assessments now factor in digital technology at 43% of workplaces, and 42% of companies offer training on the subject. The specific risks organisations cite most often are higher work intensity (34%), information overload (32%) and the blurring of boundaries between work and private life (27%).
Legislation remains the main driver
Despite these shifts, compliance with laws and regulations remains the top reason European employers invest in workplace safety, EU-OSHA reports. The figures come from ESENER 2024, which surveyed more than 41,000 establishments across 30 European countries. The updated visualisation tool is available in 25 languages and allows users to compare trends across all three editions.
Context
The decline in employee involvement in psychosocial risks is notable in light of international guidance in this area. ISO 45003:2021, an international standard for managing psychosocial risks within an occupational health and safety management system, is built on the involvement of employees and, where present, their representatives. The standard, published in June 2021, applies to organisations of any size and sector and aligns with the broader ISO 45001 framework for occupational safety.
Source: From worker participation to digitalisation: explore ESENER trends over time, 24 September 2026
Additional research: Prolonged sitting, psychosocial risks and digitalisation top workplace safety and health concerns, new EU survey reveals, EU-OSHA press release; ISO 45003:2021 – Psychological health and safety at work, ISO
