The European Migration Network (EMN) and the OECD have published a new joint study entitled ‘Labour migration in times of labour shortages’. The publication draws on contributions from EMN Member and Observer Countries, including Serbia, as well as from OECD countries that are not members of the European Union. The study provides an overview of legislation and policies in the field of labour migration and presents specific initiatives and practical measures (covering the period 2021–2024) that countries use to address current labour shortages. It also focuses on tools that can help prevent future challenges in the labour market.
The study highlights that labour migration is increasingly perceived as a key element in addressing persistent labour shortages, caused for example by recruitment difficulties, demographic changes, economic transformations, or the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Labour shortages occur across all sectors and at all skill levels, while domestic labour supply is unable to fully meet labour market needs. For this reason, EMN countries are increasingly using migration as a labour market policy tool, which is reflected in the high share of residence permits issued for employment purposes.
At the same time, EMN Countries report challenges and risks associated with labour migration, including recruiting over-qualified workers, language and cultural integration barriers, heightened risks of exploitation, poor working and living conditions, and pressure on housing and public services.
Since 2021, several countries have introduced extensive legislative and policy reforms in the area of labour migration. Many EMN countries combine demand-driven and mixed approaches and are introducing digitalised and fast-track procedures that help better align labour migration with labour market needs. In practice, the recruitment and attraction of foreign workers rely mainly on initiatives led by employers and private recruitment agencies. Bilateral agreements, quality-assurance mechanisms, and various recruitment and promotional strategies also play an important role.
EMN Member Countries also engage, to some extent, with EU initiatives and instruments on labour migration, including EU Talent Partnerships and projects funded under the Migration Partnership Facility, supporting the implementation of labour migration initiatives.
The full EMN–OECD joint study ‘Labour migration in times of labour shortages’, including National study of the SR (in questionnaire format), inform and flash available in the Publications section of the EMN website.