Labour shortages affect all skill levels and multiple sectors in EMN Member and Observer Countries, as well as in OECD countries, including healthcare, construction, and ICT. Countries face the need to attract, retain, and integrate workers from abroad, and policymakers require reliable information on how labour migration is applied, the challenges it presents, and the approaches considered effective. In this context, the study provides insights into the approaches, developments, and experiences of EMN Member Countries and Serbia regarding labour migration.

The study provides the following insights:

• Labour migration is increasingly recognised as a key strategy to tackle persistent labour shortages across EMN Member and Observer Countries, driven by challenges in recruitment, demographic changes, economic transitions, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
   
• Labour shortages are often defined as an imbalance between vacancies and available workers – assessed through quantitative metrics and qualitative evaluations of skills mismatches.
   
• Since 2021, many countries have implemented extensive legal and policy reforms, combining demand-driven and mixed approaches, alongside measures such as digitalisation and fast-track procedures.
   
• Attracting foreign talent often relies on employer-led initiatives and private recruitment agencies, including bilateral agreements, quality assurance measures, and diverse recruitment campaigns.
   
• EMN Member Countries rely, to some extent, on EU initiatives developed since 2021, such as Talent Partnerships and Migration Partnership Facility projects, to support labour migration.
   
• Countries report challenges such as recruiting over-qualified workers, language and cultural integration barriers, risks of exploitation, poor working and living conditions, and added pressure on housing and public services.

For full details, read the complete study above. For a shorter overview, consult the EMN Inform. For a quick, two-page summary, see the EMN Flash.