research labour market and social policy

Labour Market and Social Policy

The Labour and Social Policy thematic group is composed of experts in the fields of labour, economy, and social affairs, with experience in policy-making, practical work, as well as in conducting research and analyses. In various projects, we have studied the impact of social and labour market services, the experiences of different target groups with these services, attitudes and behaviours, and opportunities for service development. In addition to a wide range of labour and social policy topics, we have also contributed to health-related projects, studying health behaviour as well as needs and attitudes related to the health sector. We support the implementation of the European Social Survey in Estonia.

We conduct national research and analyses in Estonia and also participate in international projects. Our main clients in Estonia are public institutions such as the Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Social Insurance Board, Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund, and others. In international projects, we collaborate with research institutions and universities from other countries; these projects are funded by, for example, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and other funders.

Key topics

  • Impact analyses of social services – e.g., rehabilitation, local government social services.
  • Guardianship sector legal framework, user experiences, and international practices – mechanisms for supporting adults requiring decision-making assistance and protecting their rights.
  • Services in regional development, service innovation and models, economic analyses – development of local government services.
  • Occupational health service models – accessibility, employee health protection and promotion in the workplace.
  • Health behaviour and its promotion, development of healthcare services – patient behaviour, attitudes, and experiences, as well as issues related to disability and reduced work capacity.
  • Labour market and changes in the labour market – skill gaps, labour market restructuring to reduce skill gaps, mapping and forecasting skills, assessing the impact and development of labour market services.
  • Family support services and their impact – family mediation, substitute care.
  • Evidence-based analysis of offences and police practice – research focused on rehabilitation and interventions for juvenile offenders, as well as the handling of serious cases of violence.

Our work has been the basis of:

  • Continuous development of the occupational health system (Occupational Health Survey for the Ministry of Social Affairs)
  • Development of the guardianship system (Adult Guardianship Survey for the Ministry of Social Affairs)
  • Accuracy of residence data in national registers, digital state improvements, and greater state presence in digital tools (RITA project: mobile lifestyles, public service usage, and residence data in national registers)
  • Enhancing non-punitive interventions in police work (analysis of evidence-based non-punitive interventions for juvenile offenders and their effectiveness)
  • Development of family mediation services (impact analysis of the national family mediation service for the Social Insurance Board).
  • Long-term plan for personalized medicine (development plan for personalized medicine for the Ministry of Social Affairs).
  • Development of methods to support health behaviour (analysis of evidence-based methodologies to promote health behaviour for the Ministry of Social Affairs).

Members of the thematic group

Thematic Lead
RAKE
Sabina Trankmann
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Thematic Lead
Sabina has a Master’s degree from Tallinn University in Psychology Education, and has also studied Work and Health Communication as well as the fundamentals of Legal Psychology. She has participated in several national and international projects both as a Project Manager and an Analyst. She has experience in leading research teams as well as working as an Analyst in multidisciplinary studies and analyses across various fields. Sabina specialises in social and labour policy, with extensive expertise gained through her work as a practitioner, policymaker, and analyst.
RAKE
Merle Mägi
MA (Sociology)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst
Merle holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Tartu and a Master’s degree in Urban Management from Tallinn University. She has participated in several national and international projects both as a Project Manager and an Analyst, with experience in leading research teams as well as working as an Analyst in multidisciplinary studies and analyses. She has extensive experience applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
RAKE
Kristiina Vain
MA (Politics and Governance in the Digital Age)
Faculty of Social Sciences
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
Junior Research Fellow in Political Science, 0.8 p
Lossi 36–422
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst, 0.2 p
Kristiina holds a Master’s degree in “Politics and Governance in the Digital Age” from the University of Tartu and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She has participated in several national projects both as a Project Manager and an Analyst, and has extensive knowledge of qualitative data collection and analysis methods. In addition to her work at CASS, Kristiina is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at the University of Tartu, focusing on the relationships between wellbeing and financial wellbeing, as well as the study of welfare policies.
Doris Pavlov
MA (Analysis of Society and Information Processes)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst
Doris has Master’s degrees in Economics, with a specialization in Innovation and Economic Modelling, and in Social and Information Process Analysis. She has strong knowledge of qualitative research methods. Doris has considerable experience in conducting analyses and designing survey research across a wide range of fields.
Töötaja profiilifoto
Janika Bachmann
PhD (Government and Politics)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst, 0.2 p
Janika holds a PhD in Public and Political Science. Her research focuses on the societal impacts of socioeconomic and demographic changes, social issues, and population ageing. Janika has experience with both quantitative and qualitative research methods, with a particular emphasis on document analysis.
RAKE
Martin Hayford
MA (European Union - Russia Studies)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst
Martin has a Master’s degree in Political Science. He is a Project Manager and Analyst with experience managing and implementing EU-funded projects from programs such as Horizon Europe, Interreg Central Baltic, and Erasmus+. He specializes in quantitative analysis and project writing. His main areas of research include labor market analyses and migration, as well as policy analysis.
Olena Denysenko
Olena Denysenko
MA (Politics and Governance in the Digital Age)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Analyst
Olena holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Tartu. She is an Analyst who has contributed to projects from funders such as Horizon Europe and Interreg Central Baltic. She is a hybrid analyst concentrating mainly on qualitative methods. Her main areas of research include labor market dynamics, migration, and EU legislation.