The Influence of COVID-19 Phenomenon on the Labour Market at the European Regional Level

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantial job losses and an economic decline in European labour markets, with various effects observed at regional level. The unemployment rate experienced a sharp increase, disproportionately impacting the younger generation and individuals with limited skills. The prevalence of remote work has risen, creating difficulties in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The three research questions concern: (1) examining scientific literature; (2) validating the effects of COVID-19 on the labour market; and (3) identifying the indicators and regions in Europe that have been most significantly affected. The study begins by performing an exploratory analysis of the data, then proceeds to an examination of the principal components to reduce dimensionality. It concludes with a cluster analysis to enhance the visualisation of different regions. The results are in conformity with the scientific literature but also indicate specificities for different regions or indicators. While most studies concentrate on examining the effects of this phenomenon on just a couple of European countries, the present research extensively analyses all regions across the continent. Furthermore, the study spans a prolonged period from 2018 to 2022, covering the period preceding the pandemic, the crisis itself, and the aftermath. The final contribution regards the methodology used, which considers both approaches utilised in the research.