Integration in the labour market

Integration of legally residing third-country nationals in EU labour markets

The sustainable integration of migrants in the labour market is key to ensuring their effective inclusion in the host societies and their positive impact on the EU economy. This entails fully using the potential of their skills, qualifications and motivation. Migrants can contribute significantly to addressing skills shortages in all sectors and at all skill levels.

But although many migrants bring skills to the EU that are highly needed on EU Member States’ labour markets, they often struggle to put them to use. Ensuring that migrants learn the language of the host country, get information about their rights and opportunities on the job market and receive adequate training is essential.

Moreover, skills validation and recognition of qualifications are key issues: among highly educated third-country nationals in employment, more than 40% work below their qualification levels (i.e. in medium or even low skills occupations). Member States and the European Union as a whole have both an interest and responsibility to put all skills to good use.

Related links

• Skills profiling tool to map the skills, qualifications and work experiences of third-country nationals and to give them personalised advice on further steps
• European Year of Skills
• European Alliance for Apprenticeships

European Partnership for integration

The European Partnership for Integration is a framework for cooperation between the European Commission and social and economic partners for fostering the integration of refugees and other migrants in the EU labour market. First signed in 2017, the partnership has allowed for the implementation of a wide range of actions, including ones sponsored by the Commission.

EU Funding for labour market integration

Funding for labour market integration is available under the European Social Fund and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. The toolkit on the use of EU funds for the integration of people with a migrant background provides more details.