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: 05 May 2024
This ad hoc query maps the existing procedures in EMN Member and Observer Countries to obtain the recognition of third-country qualifications for the profession of doctor with basic medical training. It looks into the requirements in place, including linguistic criteria, the cost of the procedure for the applicant, and the number of applications received and processed in 2023.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: recognition of qualifications, doctor, labour shortages
Publication date: 05 October 2023
This study offers a thorough and current examination of the legislation, policies and practices related to the integration of international protection applicants into the job market in EMN Member Countries. It offers an overview of the various stakeholders responsible for implementing labour market accessibility and highlights both the challenges encountered and examples of good practices.
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Main theme: Integration
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: labour market integration, labour shortages, waiting period, labour market access, discrimination
Publication date:
Johan Wets and Tom De Bruyn, researchers at the Reasearch Center HIVA of the KUL publish their study about shortages of staff in the healthcare sector in Belgium.
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Publication date: 03 February 2012
This EMN Inform presents a brief summary of the findings from the EMN Study on Satisfying Labour Demand through Migration
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Publication date: 17 June 2011
EMN presents its synthesis report of the EMN study ‘Satisfying Labour Demand through Migration ’. Source of this publication are the different national studies, carried out in 2010 by the National Contact Points (NCP's) of the EMN.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: EMN Reports & Studies
Keywords: highly skilled workers, labour migration policy, labour shortages, low-skilled workers, mobility, work permit
Publication date: 30 March 2011
What are the immigration processes with which compliance must be ensured for the employment of third-country highlyskilled workers in different European countries? In which country are the migration processes the fastest and the easiest to comply with? The answer is to be found in this Laga study.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Study
Keywords: highly skilled workers, labour migration policy, labour migration temporary migration visa, labour shortages
Publication date: 30 March 2011
In the context of the comprehensive US immigration reform, improved controls and dealing with unauthorized foreigners were discussed extensively in the US Senate in 2006 and 2007. But what about the future flows?
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Study
Keywords: Immigration reform, labour shortages, Migration Advisory Commitee
Publication date: 30 March 2011
What about the role demography could play in the research on the causes of international population movements? This Paper aims at analysing this role and also analyses the intersection of future demographic trends with possible labour market developments
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Publication Type: Study
Keywords: ageing, demographic projections, demography, labour shortages, population decline
Publication date: 28 December 2010
What is the Belgian approach and policy regarding economic migration? This study addresses this question and examines the labour migration in Belgium from the point of view of combating labour shortages and/or labour demands.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: highly skilled, labour policy, labour shortages, low skilled, mobility, work permit
Publication date: 30 June 2006
This study examines the migration of students and professionals in the health sector in Belgium. It addresses various issues relating to qualifications and attractiveness of the education system and limitations to the migration of health professionals from third countries.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: education, employment, labour shortages
Publication date:
On 18 November, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the creation of a platform designed to facilitate the recruitment of non-European workers. The “EU Talent Pool” will connect employers established in the EU with non-EU jobseekers in sectors where Member States face labour shortages. Participation in the Talent Pool will be voluntary for Member States, and the platform will remain free of charge for both jobseekers and employers.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: EU Talent Pool, foreign workers, labour shortages, competitiveness
Publication date:
On 3 December 2025 in Stockholm, the EMN Sweden Conference will gather stakeholders to discuss labour shortages and international talent attraction. The event will explore EU and national strategies to address these challenges and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. Policymakers, experts and practitioners will exchange insights, good practices and new research findings.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: talent attraction, labour shortages, competitiveness
Publication date:
Through its campaign “So what, we continue the exploitation?”, the CIRÉ underlines that undocumented workers who informally fill the labour needs, are at risk of being exploited. It pleads to give them access to legal work, particularly through the single permit procedure.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: undocumented migrants, undocumented worker, single permit, labour shortages, labour exploitation
Publication date:
The Flemish Support Point Labour and Social Economy organizes together with the Flemish Department Labour and Social Economy the 5th Labour Market Congress with a focus on Labour Migration
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: highly skilled workers, labour demand, labour shortages
Publication date:
EMN presents its synthesis report of the EMN study ‘Satisfying Labour Demand through Migration ’. Source of this publication are the different national studies, carried out in 2010 by the National Contact Points (NCP's) of the EMN.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Keywords: highly skilled workers, labour policy, labour shortages, low-skilled workers, mobility, work permit
Publication date:
Johan Wets and Fernando Pauwels of HIVA-KULeuven present a research project on Eastern European labour migration and make recommendations. Practical information: Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 14-17 pm, Trierstraat 31-33, 1041 Brussels