Computer-Assisted Monitoring of SDG 8 Achievement

Monitoring progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) requires analytical tools that enable flexible and transparent assessment of multiple indicators. However, existing monitoring approaches are usually based on predefined indicator sets and static analytical frameworks, which limit their adaptability. This study develops and demonstrates a computer-assisted system for monitoring SDG 8 achievement. The system integrates automatic data retrieval from Eurostat, flexible selection of indicators, countries, and years, procedures for handling missing data, and alternative options for constructing a synthetic index. The system was tested in an illustrative case study for European Union countries using Eurostat data for 2015–2023. The empirical application initially covered 19 indicators (11 core SDG 8 indicators and 8 supplementary indicators) for 27 EU countries, while the final analytical sample included 24 countries after data-based exclusions. The results showed substantial differences in SDG 8 achievement trajectories across countries: some countries maintained relatively stable high positions over time (e.g., Italy, Estonia, Germany, and Austria), whereas others recorded marked improvement (e.g., Ireland, Denmark, Cyprus, Lithuania, and Latvia). These findings confirm the practical usefulness of the proposed tool for data processing, comparative assessment, and evidence-informed monitoring of SDG 8 progress.