This paper presents a new approach to evaluating individuals’ employment quality, considering the evolution of individuals’ employment conditions over a period of time, instead of the quality of jobs held at a certain point in time. In particular, we present a new definition of employment quality, based on four dimensions: employment security, income security, economic success and the successful match between education and occupation. Using EUSILC data, we analyse the extent to which the achievement of employment quality five years after leaving education varies according to gender, education, country groups and time periods. Our findings suggest that there is still a pressing need to enhance women’s chances to remain continuously in employment and to move up in the labour income distribution. Loosening the rules on the use of temporary contracts actually generates more difficulties for women and loweducated individuals and it also appears to worsen youth employment prospects in general.

Keywords: Employment quality, Employment security, Income security, Young people, Employment protection legislation.

JEL classifications: J81, J69, J13