The European Commission has today presented a package to attract talents outside the EU countries. The package presented by Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johanson aims to ease mobility within the union in the face of capacity shortages in a number of sectors. According to Johanson, the measures include the adaptation of employers in the European Union to job seekers from third countries, as well as measures to promote the recognition of qualifications and the mobility of students.
"Facilitating the recognition of qualifications and the validation of skills acquired in non-EU countries is a key opportunity for employers seeking skilled workers and for third-country nationals seeking access to the EU labor market, as well as integration of them in the host societies", the announcement of the European Commission states.
The EU faces persistent labor shortages across a range of sectors at all skill levels. The unemployment rate remains low (6.0% in September 2023) and the job vacancy rate rose to 2.9% last year, more than double the level in 2012. Demographic change will exacerbate the challenges of the labor market. The working-age population will fall from 265 million in 2022 to 258 million in 2030 in the EU. Without concerted action, current trends could undermine the green and digital transition, weaken EU competitiveness and weaken public services in areas already facing labor shortages, such as healthcare and long-term care.
The Commission's proposal for a talent pool will be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council.
Full Notice of the European Commission
Skills shortages persist across the EU, across a range of sectors and at different skill levels. The EU's effort to fill EU labor shortages starts at home: with continuous efforts to upgrade, retrain and use the untapped potential of the EU's domestic workforce to the benefit of the single market. But to address the shortages faced by Member States, the EU will also need to attract skills and talent from around the world. For this approach to be successful, the EU must be able to attract and retain the talent it needs. Developing cooperation on employment migration with third country partners can also be mutually beneficial, feeding expertise and financial support into the economy of the country of origin.
The following initiatives will support Member States in the global race for talent:
EU Talent Pool – Making it easier to recruit from outside the EU
The Commission is proposing the creation of an EU talent pool to facilitate the recruitment of jobseekers from non-EU countries into occupations in short supply across the EU. It is an innovative measure, the first EU platform of its kind, that makes international recruitment easier and faster, helping employers to access a wider pool of skills and talent. Participation in the EU talent pool will be voluntary for member states, who will support the management of the platform. It will also provide information on recruitment and migration procedures in Member States and include strong safeguards to ensure fair recruitment and working conditions.
The EU talent pool will also support the implementation of Talent Partnerships. These are tailored partnerships with non-EU countries, offering mobility for work or training. Jobseekers who have developed their skills under a Talent Partnership will receive a Talent Partnership Pass, visible to participating employers, certifying their qualifications. Opportunities for legal migration can be expected to discourage irregular migration and should go hand in hand with strengthened readmission cooperation.
Easier and faster recognition of qualifications obtained in third countries
Facilitating the recognition of qualifications and the validation of skills acquired in non-EU countries is a key opportunity for employers seeking skilled workers and for third-country nationals seeking access to the EU labor market, as well as the integration of them in the host societies.
The Commission recommends a series of measures to simplify and accelerate the recognition of skills and qualifications of third-country nationals. These measures would modernize the current EU recognition system and bring it closer to the system created for EU citizens moving to another member state.
The aim is to develop the capacity of national recognition authorities to simplify and speed up procedures by improving the comparability of third country qualifications and the way of assessing the skills of job seekers. This will allow recognition decisions to be made quickly and confidently to fill vacancies in EU shortage occupations, particularly in regulated priority occupations.
Making learning mobility a possibility for all
The proposed Council Recommendation "Europe on the move - mobility learning opportunities for all" aims to promote mobility in all areas of education and training. It invites Member States to make learning mobility within the EU an integral part of all education and training pathways, from school education and vocational training, especially apprenticeships, to higher and adult education and exchanges young people.
The Commission proposes setting ambitious new targets for 2030: increasing the share of mobility experience to at least 25% for higher education graduates, at least 20% for disadvantaged students and at least 15% for vocational students . The proposal also promotes the attractiveness of the EU as a learning destination for talents from third countries, in line with the geopolitical dimension of the European Education Area. It is based on concrete recommendations formulated by the dedicated Panel of European Citizens. The proposal includes a commitment from the Commission to monitor and support Member States in the development of national action plans for the concrete implementation of the goals.
Next steps
The Commission's proposal for an EU talent pool will now be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission will support the implementation by Member States of the Recommendation on the recognition of qualifications of third-country nationals and will invite them to report on national initiatives, reforms, good practices and statistics. The 'Europe on the Move' recommendation will be submitted to the Council for consideration and approval.
Background
The EU faces persistent labor shortages across a range of sectors at all skill levels. The unemployment rate remains low (6.0% in September 2023) and the job vacancy rate rose to 2.9% last year – more than double the level in 2012. Demographic change will exacerbate the challenges of the labor market. The working-age population will fall from 265 million in 2022 to 258 million in 2030 in the EU. Without concerted action, current trends could undermine the green and digital transition, weaken EU competitiveness and weaken public services in areas already facing labor shortages, such as healthcare and long-term care.
International job matching remains complex and costly for both non-EU nationals and employers. Employers' lack of understanding and confidence in skills and qualifications acquired in third countries is a significant barrier to the mobility of talent and skills. This not only affects the attractiveness of the EU, but leads to 'brain drain' – where third country nationals often work below their qualification level.
While learning mobility is a very valuable experience for people in acquiring the knowledge and skills needed for personal, educational and professional development, as well as for civic engagement and social inclusion, the proportion of Europeans who take part in a learning activity in a country other than their country is still low. (A2 Televizion)
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