Evidence suggests migrant workers tend to leave within five years.
Countries can recruit foreign workers, but recruitment doesn’t guarantee retention. Housing, healthcare, working conditions and integration all affect whether workers stay.
Not for good
According to a study by LISER, Luxembourg’s Institute for Socio-Economic Research on Innovation, around half of the migrant workers employed in Luxembourg leave the country within the next five years. This is a trend that is also being observed in other countries, explains Joel Machado, a researcher at LISER.
Joel Machado, Research Scientist at the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Interview by Jean-Claude Majerus, Radio 100,7
“The rates vary between countries, ranging from 30 per cent to over 70 per cent of people leaving within five years. […] I think this is a point one must be aware of when implementing various policies, such as labour market policies, housing policies, which are also designed to attract foreign workers – that a significant proportion of these people may not stay in the country or remain in the labour market for long.”
You can listen to the original clip in Luxembourgish here.
An OECD analysis finds that immigrants who entered the Netherlands and Germany between 2010 and 2014 had the highest estimated five-year departure rates, at 75 per cent and 67 per cent respectively, while France had the lowest at 27 per cent.
Analysis of these departures suggests that immigrants who are unemployed are more likely to leave the host country than the average immigrant. At the other end of the spectrum, successful immigrants are also more likely to leave, which can be linked to having achieved their savings goals.
Making it work
Consequently, given that economic benefits depend on successful integration, particular attention must be paid to this. Migrants’ needs in terms of language learning, housing, training, recognition of qualifications and social inclusion must not be neglected.
A “talent pool“, set up in June and expected to be fully operational by end 2027, will recruit workers for areas with critical skill shortages. This platform will enable job seekers from third countries to create skills-based profiles for EU employers, while participating member states can also publish job vacancies on the platform.
Fabienne Keller, a French MEP from the liberal Renew Europe group in Parliament who joined the debate on Europe’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, is calling for migrants recruited through this scheme to be treated the same way as any other local workers.
Fabienne Keller, Member of the European Parliament – Renew Europe/France, Interview by Charlotte Baechler, euradio
“The very principle of the talent pool is to recruit people in fields where there is a shortage of skills, at least in terms of numbers, in Europe. So, by definition, the beneficiaries of this scheme should be fairly well received, at least in terms of work. Then there is the question of reception, access to housing and access to healthcare. But here, it is important that they enjoy the same rights as other workers.”
You can listen to the original clip in French here.
In fact, another key challenge many experts would identify are the housing shortages, which is one of the biggest barriers to migrants’ successful integration.
Nikos Vasileiou, a member of the Board of Directors of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), recalls how challenging this integration may be.
Nikos Vasileiou, Member of the Board of Directors of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), CEO of BRIGHT, Interview by Nikos Andritsos & Marianna Pliakostamou, SKAI Radio
“There are also challenges related to social integration and adapting to European ways of working and living. The European context can be quite different from that of other regions, and this can make integration more difficult in some cases. We see this, for example, in the hospitality sector, where it can sometimes be challenging for newcomers to adapt to the working culture and expectations.”
You can listen to the original clip in Greek here.
Meanwhile, a single permit scheme is now operational, which simplifies and speeds up the job application process for third-country nationals. This permit grants them the right both to work and to reside throughout the EU, with the exception of Denmark and Ireland.
- Hermine Donceel, Euranet Plus News Agency
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