Ireland has been ranked 12^th out of 28 EU countries in terms of job quality. The European Just Jobs Index (JJI), which ranks jobs by factors like employment levels, social security, rights at work, social dialogue and equal opportunities, says Luxembourg, Sweden and Estonia are the best places to work, with Italy, Greece and Romania coming in last.

The figures were compiled in a bid to shift the policy emphasis from mere job creation to focus on quality of employment in terms of fair pay, social protection, economic mobility, and workers’ rights. The 2012 data reveals that most countries have experienced a decline in job quality since the onset of the recession.

“The issue of creating quality jobs is complex and the question of whether conditions for just jobs are improving or getting worse must be addressed urgently,” it says.

Ireland moved up to 12^th place in 2012 from 14^th the year before. Eleventh is the highest position achieved by Ireland since 2000; 14^th is the lowest.

The Just Jobs Index was developed by Just Jobs Network and the Norwegian Fafo Institute, with funding from the Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament. Its report was published in the UK journal Progressive Economy.