The economic and geopolitical challenges of 2025 – from tariff conflicts to budget cuts – showed that Europe needs to strengthen its autonomy, that sustainability measures can reduce dependencies, and that labor markets must adapt fast to transformations.
In this new-year edition of Shape It With Data, we will dive into the evidence behind these developments: from insights on staff shortages to relevant figures on health as growth motor. We’ll also explore WifOR’s outlook for 2026 and the trends that will define the upcoming months.
Enjoy reading!
Measuring impact and reducing risks in uncertain times
Trump’s foreign policy actions raised questions globally on fossil fuel dependency and international implications – a reminder that resource consumption and green transitions are not just environmental topics, but also political and economic ones.
For companies, anticipating risks amidst growingly unstable conditions is key. This means making operations and supply chains future-proof and sustainable. WifOR attended to this crucial need with various releases in 2025, including data packages for Value Factors 2.0, GHG emissions, and spend-based multipliers that allow businesses to independently calculate their footprint.
In 2026, our goal is to highlight how measuring impact allows for targeted corporate and policy action – leading to broader financial, ecological, and social benefits. SAP already explained how this works in a new article, and we will further examine their approach in a case study.
Seven actions for global leaders:
Health and sustainability are connected
As my colleague Dr. Richard Scholz recently highlighted at the German Sustainability Award, environmental factors are closely linked to health outcomes.
Climate change and pollution contribute to rising illness rates, driving up medical care costs. Meanwhile, the healthcare sector itself depends on and consumes key resources, particularly across supply chains. Recognizing these links and assessing impacts is crucial to strengthening the resilience of healthcare systems.
What’s in store in 2026:An upcoming WifOR Masterclass will address how pharmaceutical manufacturers are measuring their Scope 3 emissions – including the dialog with suppliers to improve impacts. Stay tuned.
Health for a strong and competitive Europe
While the IMF predicts slow GDP growth for Europe in 2026 (1.1% for the Euro Area), the health sector keeps showing signs of strength. One example: in terms of wealth creation, the EU Health Economy developed more strongly than the bloc’s overall economy between 2014 and 2022 (4.3% vs 3.9% as a yearly average).
The data stems from WifOR's interactive dashboard developed for the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The tool is now available in English and opens the door for more countries to understand how the health sector pushes economic growth.
The connection between well-being and welfare was also underscored in our recent white paper “Healthy Returns.” But despite the scientific evidence proving that health drives growth, long-term funding remains a challenge. To address this issue, we launched a global health investment framework in 2025 and a concept for a Federal Foundation for Prevention in Germany that can unlock new financing opportunities.
In 2026, I will join several online and in-person conversations to emphasize the value of health. Among them are a panel at the BMC Kongress and an upcoming interview in the “Transforming Health” podcast.
Combatting labor shortages locally and internationally
This year, more workers of the baby boomer generation will retire, widening existing labor deficits and increasing pressure on social security systems.
In 2026, a major project is coming: the Skilled Labor Monitor for Europe. The tool will serve as a digital window into current and future labor availability, with forecasts up to 2040 and specific analyses per job, qualification, sector, and region. The monitor is designed to help European companies anticipate workforce challenges and enhance their competitiveness.
2026 outlook
Our scientific evidence points to a clear strategy for the year: resilience can be built if impact measurement, health investments, and labor policies are prioritized and based on reliable data. Our projects for 2026 seek to aid decision-makers in detecting risks, promoting health as a socioeconomic good, and pinpointing workforce needs before staff shortages become constraints. This way, we can secure a stable future for Europe and strengthen the region’s capacity to independently navigate external geopolitical shifts.
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