Labour migration: Commission and Member States advance cooperation through new platform

On 10 January Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, hosted the first meeting of the Labour Migration Platform with representatives from Member States specialising in migration and employment policy, as well as European Social and Economic Partners. The platform was set up to advance labour migration to the EU with the goal of attracting much needed skills and talent from non-EU countries.

Many companies in the EU are struggling to find workers with the necessary skills in key sectors. As Member States face these acute labour and skills shortages, for example in the healthcare and information technology sectors, this new platform will help tackle the issue. Current demographic trends leading to an ageing and shrinking working population in the EU will increase these shortages in the future. One measure that can contribute to overcome this challenge is well-managed labour migration.

At the meeting, the participants discussed labour market challenges, exchanged best practices regarding labour migration and the most effective tools to attract skilled workers to the EU. The Platform will also support setting up the Skills and Talent Package initiatives and actions proposed in the European Year of Skills. Cooperation is key meaning the Labour Migration Platform will convene on a regular basis.

More details on the first meeting can be found in the press release.

For More Information

• Skills and Talent Package
• EU Talent Partnerships
• EU Talent Pool pilot initiative
• European Year of Skills