EU Says Migrant Workers are Vital to Filling Job Gaps

04
Nov 2025

The European Union says that migrant workers are crucial to filling labor gaps and boosting job growth across Europe.

New data by the European Commission shows that contributions by migrant workers are helping the bloc hit its 2030 employment targets. 

Migrant workers help power Europe’s job growth

The European Commission’s new Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2025 report says that migrants are a major force behind Europe’s progress toward its 2030 jobs target. 

The EU aims for a 78% employment rate among people aged 20 to 64 — a goal now within reach thanks in part to migrant labor.

The report found that around 51 million people from vulnerable groups could strengthen the EU workforce, including 7 million migrants. 

However, many still face barriers that keep them from stable jobs, such as language gaps, degree recognition issues, discrimination, and care responsibilities, especially among women.

Breaking down barriers

Migrants with higher education are more likely than EU nationals to be unemployed, even though they are more willing to work. 

The Commission recommended comprehensive and tailored approaches to improve access to jobs. These include language training, civil orientation, skills enhancement, and recognition of qualifications obtained outside the EU.

Other proposed measures include financial incentives for employers, job search assistance, and simplified work permits through national implementation of the EU Single Permit Directive, all intended to help fill labour shortages across the bloc.

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Filling Europe’s labor shortages

Migrants already play a crucial role in keeping European economies running. According to another Commission report, Labour Market and Wage Developments in Europe, non-EU citizens made up 6% of the total EU workforce in 2023, compared with 2% in 2010.

The same report showed growth in migrant employment in shortage occupations, such as plant and machine operators, where native employment has fallen.

At the national level, Portugal saw the number of foreign workers more than triple between 2017 and 2022, with migrant contributions covering 17% of the country’s pension and retirement costs. 

In the Czech Republic, data from the Ministry of Labor showed that beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine sometimes contributed more in taxes than they received in benefits.

EU projects opening doors

The European Commission’s Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion (2021–2027) focuses on improving how skills and qualifications from outside the EU are recognized. 

Digital tools like the EU Skills Profile Tool for Third-Country Nationals help map migrants’ abilities, provide tailored job guidance, and are already in use across several member states.

New initiatives are also being prepared. The Skills Portability Initiative will explore common EU rules for recognizing qualifications from non-EU countries, while the Fair Labor Mobility Package will promote fair and transparent working conditions for all workers, including migrants.

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Funding new opportunities

Through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the EU finances projects that support migrants entering the workforce. In 2024, eight new cross-border projects were launched, including:

POWGEN, which connects migrants with jobs in renewable energy.
WISER, which supports migrant women entrepreneurs.
INTEGRALITY, which promotes fair labor conditions for agricultural workers.

Travel systems shape the way visitors move

For travelers heading to Europe, new border technology will change how people enter and leave the region. 

The Entry/Exit System (EES), which began rolling out in October 2025, records when non-EU nationals cross borders using fingerprints and facial data. It replaces manual passport stamps with a digital record, making checks faster and more secure across 30 European countries.

By 2026, visitors from visa-exempt countries will also need to apply for ETIAS travel authorization before arrival. The system—set to start in the last quarter of 2026—applies to citizens of 59 countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Canada, staying for up to 90 days.

These changes connect directly to the EU’s wider goal of balancing open travel with workforce management. With clearer records of who enters, leaves, or overstays, governments can plan better for short-term workers and students while maintaining flexible mobility for tourists and business visitors. 

In the long run, ETIAS and EES will work alongside Schengen visa policies to simplify legal entry and strengthen security across borders.

The bigger picture

The European Commission says that activating vulnerable groups, especially migrants, is key to closing the final gap toward full employment. 

With targeted policies and fairer systems, the EU hopes to make better use of existing talent and meet future labor needs as Europe’s population continues to age.