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EMN study | Labour migration

EMN study: 'Labour migration in times of labour shortages'

4 December 2025

EMN research into how EU Member States and EMN Observer Countries use labour migration to address labour market shortages, and to prevent shortages in the future.

Study period - January 2021-June 2024 
Participating EU Member States - Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), Bulgaria (BG), Cyprus (CY), Czech Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Estonia (EE), Greece (EL), Finland (FI), France (FR), Hungary (HU), Ireland (IE), Italy (IT), Croatia (HR), Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LU), Latvia (LV), Malta (MT), Netherlands (NL), Poland (PL), Slovenia (SI), Slovakia (SK), Spain (ES), Sweden (SE) 
Participating EMN Observer Countries - Serbia (RS)

Background and scopeEMN Study Labour migration in times of labour shortages coverbeeld

  • In less than ten years, labour shortages in the EU have more than doubled. EU Member States and EMN observer countries are affected by this to varying degrees and in different ways. Labour migration can be an instrument for addressing these shortages.
  • The research provides an overview of labour migration policies for addressing labour market shortages. It complements the earlier EMN inform 'New and Innovative Ways to Attract Foreign Talent into the EU' (March 2025).
  • It concerns third-country nationals moving to an EU Member State for work, including seasonal workers and other temporary workers. Labour migration by EU/EFTA nationals (free movement) and posted workers are excluded from the research.
  • The research was conducted in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

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Written By Sandra Murmans