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EMN study | Labour migration

EMN study: ‘Fostering sustainable labour market integration: skills matching policies and instruments’

30 July 2026

EMN study on policies in EU Member States to foster the sustainable labour market integration of third-country nationals by making better use of their skills and qualifications.

Study period – Up to and including October 2025
Participating EU Member States – Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), Bulgaria (BG), Cyprus (CY), Czechia (CZ), Germany (DE), Estonia (EE), Greece (EL), Spain (ES), Finland (FI), France (FR), Hungary (HU), Ireland (IE), Italy (IT), Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LU), Latvia (LV), Malta (MT), the Netherlands (NL), Poland (PL), Portugal (PT), Sweden (SE), Slovenia (SI), Slovakia (SK)

Background and scopeCoverafbeelding study skills matching

  • Many businesses across the EU are unable to fill vacancies because they cannot find people with the required skills and qualifications. At the same time, many third-country nationals living in Europe are employed in jobs that do not match their skills, qualifications and level of education.
  • The EU has established legislative frameworks to address this skills mismatch. These are enshrined in the European Skills Agenda and the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027. In addition, there are initiatives such as the EU Talent Pool, Talent Partnerships and the Union of Skills Strategy (2025).
  • This study maps the policies and initiatives of EU Member States aimed at making better use of the skills and qualifications of third-country nationals living in Europe and fostering their sustainable labour market integration.

Publications EMN

Publications EMN Netherlands

  • National contribution to the EMN study (developed by EMN Netherlands on the basis of desk research and consultations with Dutch experts): 'National contribution of the Netherlands', July 2025
  • Expected in September 2026: benchmark of EMN Netherlands comparing the Dutch policy with the policies of other European countries
     
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Written By Sandra Murmans