Labor Flexibility in Europe. The Construction of the Canon of a Concept

This article examines the historical development of the concept of labor flexibility in Western Europe, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. Through the review and analysis of research on labor flexibility and its implications, our goal is to enrich the historical understanding of transformations in the world of work. Since the 1970s, the crisis of labor systems in the West has challenged models of worker protection and social security. Disparities among European countries regarding labor flexibility and its multiple repercussions in the social sphere can be attributed to various factors, such as the influence of unions, labor regulations, and government policies. Exploring the historical evolution of labor flexibility as a concept is essential for understanding how it has become a conceptual framework guiding reforms and changes in the labor sphere.