Publication date: 02 December 2025
This joint EMN-OECD study provides a comprehensive overview of labour migration laws, policies, initiatives, and practices targeting third-country nationals in EMN Member Countries and Serbia between January 2021 and June 2024. It examines how labour migration is used to address current and future workforce shortages, covering key countries of origin and crucial labour sectors. The study highlights the challenges faced and the practices considered by countries with regard to labour migration.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: labour migration, labour shortages, foreign workers, talent attraction, talent partnership
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Due to the increased need for foreign labour force, Member States are multiplying their negotiations of bilateral agreements and programmes with third countries on labour mobility. In order to have a current state of play and with a view to better coordinate this matter, the European Commission asked EMN Member countries to provide information on any bilateral agreement or programme supporting mobility from third countries.
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Main theme: External Dimension, Economic migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: labour migration, labour mobility, legal migration, bilateral agreements, bilateral programmes
Publication date: 04 November 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the flow of migrants who planned to enter the EU and OECD countries as workers in essential sectors (e.g. health- and care- workers, hospital auxiliary staff, agricultural workers) as well as those who were residing on a temporary or renewable basis for the purpose of work in these sectors. How did EU & OECD countries respond to the need to prevent labour market shortages during the COVID-19 crisis? An answer to this and other questions can be found in the Inform.
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Publication date: 16 December 2015
Upon request by the LIBE committee, this research paper reviews the social and economic context of EU international labour migration policy, the status of relevant EU legislation and the available policy options.
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Publication date: 16 November 2015
This EMN Inform summarises the main findings of the EMN Study "Determining labour shortages and the need for labour migration from third countries".
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: labour migration, labour shortage
Publication date: 30 June 2015
This study examines the interconnection between labour shortages in the Member States and labour migration policies from third countries to Member States.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: labour migration, labour shortage
Publication date: 03 December 2014
This flagship publication on migration analyses recent developments in migration movements and policies in OECD countries and selected non-OECD countries.
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Main theme: Migration, Economic migration, Integration
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: economic growth, international migration trend, labour market integration, labour migration
Publication date: 07 August 2012
This article examines ways of better identifying the role of mid- and low-skilled migration in filling labour and skill shortages.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration, low-skilled, semi-skilled, labour shortage, skill development
Publication date: 28 April 2011
Does circular migration bring benefits? Is there evidence to support that it is preferred by migrants? This discussion paper examines the reasons behind the upsurge of interest in circular migration as well as benefits and improvements proposed to such models.
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Main theme: External Dimension
Publication Type: Study
Keywords: labour migration, managed migration, temporary migration, triple win
Publication date: 01 December 2006
What is the Belgian approach towards highly skilled workers from third countries? This study examines in detail the selection criteria, admission requirements, procedures for issuing work permits and the available data on the subject.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: highly skilled, labour demand, labour migration, work permit
Publication date:
The EMN Cyprus National Conference aims to foster dialogue among policymakers, experts, employers, trade unions, and civil society to discuss how sustainable and effective migration policies can support labour market resilience. The event will serve as a platform to exchange experiences, showcase good practices, and develop practical guidance for national and EU-level policymakers.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration, economic growth, labour market need, skills shortage, foreign workers
Publication date:
Myria, the Federal Migration Centre, has published a thematic report on economic migration, free movement and students as part of its annual report "Migration in figures and rights 2025". The publication explains trends in labour migration and study-related mobility. It shows that labour migration from outside the EU has slightly decreased, the share of third-country nationals among temporary postings has continued to grow, and student numbers are increasing.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Study § Training
Keywords: Myria, annual report, labour migration, student migration, temporary posting
Publication date:
This conference aims to facilitate discussion among authorities and experts on labour migration and the response to labour market needs through sustainable and effective migration policies on a national and EU level. Selected institutions and experts will address the labour market trends and workforce needs in Cyprus and the EU, the challenges and opportunities of legal migration pathways for Cyprus, and EU best practices.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration, labour market need, workforce, legal migration pathway
Publication date:
This conference will explore the role labour migration might play in addressing labour market shortages in the Netherlands and the broader European context, while considering both the benefits and the challenges it brings. Participants will look at case studies and delve into concrete examples from other EU Member States, and explore various approaches to managing labour migration. Policymakers and experts will engage in this dialogue to examine the diverse policy choices that might shape the future of labour migration policies.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration, labour migration policy, labour shortage
Publication date:
The European Commission has developed a new interactive tool to map labour migration pathways across the 27 EU Member States. It helps to visualise the 290 pathways that were active at the time of the research and updated to February 2024.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration, legal pathway, foreign job seeker
Publication date:
As the demand for migrant workers increases amid persistent labour shortages and geopolitical shifts in Central and Eastern Europe, this conference will delve into the ways countries attempt to attract migrants, ensure ethical recruitment, and implement labour market integration policies.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration, labour shortage, Eastern Europe
Publication date:
Organised under the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this conference will bring together policymakers, practitioners, and representatives of industries and worker unions, and allow for meaningful discussions on the current state of labour migration, trends, challenges, and possible solutions.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration
Publication date:
On October 21, the joint EMN-OECD inform on "Maintaining labour migration in essential sectors in times of pandemic" will be launched with a webinar.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration
Publication date:
During the competition which has started on 31 July 2017 and closes on 27 October 2017, professional journalists are invited to submit exemplary articles and media productions on labour migration.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration, migrant worker
Publication date:
This annual conference aims to tackle the current challenges for the EU in developing a coherent legal framework in the field of labour migration and to provide practitioners with an update on the legal rules applicable to labour migrants.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: blue card, highly skilled, labour migration, seasonal workers directive, single permit directive
Publication date:
The joint European Commission-OECD report on Matching Economic Migration with Labour Market Needs shows that migration and mobility have a key role to play to address demographic decline and skills shortages in the EU.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics, Study § Training, Economic migration
Keywords: migrants' skills, labour mobility, labour migration, employment, demography
Publication date:
On 25 February, 25 March and 29 April, the CeMIS in cooperation with the University of Antwerp, organize a seminar to address several issues and actual developments on migration and asylum.
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Main theme: Asylum, Migration
Keywords: free movement, labour migration, marriage of convenience, medical regularisation
Publication date:
This panel debate will bring together experts, policymakers, and social partners involved in the management of labour migration to discuss the various options available to policymakers when trying to design an 'optimally balanced' labour migration policy.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: labour migration, talent, migrant worker
Publication date:
On 5 and 6 November, the Lithuanian EU Presidency hosted the EMN Annual conference. This edition focussed on the achievements and challenges of EU labour migration and the role of migration in the EU Agenda for Growth.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: EMN Annual Conference, growth, labour migration, labour migration policy
Publication date:
At the occasion of the 13th Alliance against Trafficking in Persons Conference in Vienna, discussions focus on inequalities linked with migration and the labour market, that increase vulnerabilities to trafficking.