REVIEWING LABOUR MIGRATION POLICY IN EUROPE Attractiveness, Evaluation, Recommendations from a Joint OECD-European Commission research project Jean-Christophe Dumont and Jonathan Chaloff International Migration Division Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs OECD Public hearing on "Reforming the EU Blue Card“ European Parliament Brussels, 7 November 2016
Outline of the presentation Key questions • Is the EU able to attract the skills it needs? • Who wants to come to the EU? • What can be done at the EU level to improve the EU’s ability to attract and retain the skills it needs? Take away messages EU is boxing below its weight in the global competition for talents The value added of the EU policies regarding high- skilled migration can be improved … … but this requires a global approach to the attractiveness and retention of foreign talents
Europe receives as many new permanent immigrants as the United States Permanent immigration by category of entry or of status change into selected OECD countries, 2013 1,8 Other Free movement Work 1,6 1,4 % of the population 1,2 1,0 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0,0 Source: OECD (2015), International Migration Outlook.
The higher the education level, the less likely non-EU migrants are to live in the EU Distribution of non-EU migrants by education level and destination, stock and intentions High Low Medium Other Observed 2010/11 Other OECD; Other OECD; 5% OECD; 13% 23% EU/EEA; 32% EU/EEA; 39% EU/EEA; United 50% States; 45% United United States; States; 48% 45% Source : DIOC 2010/11, 25-64 Intentions 2011 Other Other OECD; Other OECD; 20% OECD; 17% EU/EEA 34% EU/EEA 37% EU/EEA , 38% 42% United United United States; States; States; 41% 41% 29% Source : Gallup World Surveys , 18+
The EU is the preferential destination for European and sub-Saharan high-educated potential migrants Region or country preferred by potential migrants, high-educated only, by region of origin, 2011 EU/EEA United States Other OECD Non-OECD Other Europe 0,4559 Sub-Saharan Africa 0,3221 Asia 0,3069 Middle East & North Africa 0,2349 Latin America & Caribbean 0,2238 North America & Oceania 0,1068 EU/EEA 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Source: Gallup surveys 2011-2014, Gubert and Senne (2016). Extrapolated using sampling weights. Figures exclude intra-EU/EEA mobility
The EU attracts international students but struggles to retain them Number of international students by destination, 2000-12, excluding intra-EU mobility EU United States Japan Canada EEA Australia/New Zealand 900 Thousands 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012 Source: OECD Education database
Potential employers have a negative view on attractiveness and retention Executives in EU Member States perceive greater difficulty in attracting and retaining talent than many other OECD destinations, 2013-14 Attract talent Retain talent 6,5 Best 6 5,5 5 4,5 4 3,5 3 2,5 2 Worst Source : WEF (2014), Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 , World Economic Forum, Geneva.
What role for labour migration policies? The scope for national policies to make a difference is shrinking Most OECD countries have converging favourable policies for the “best and … leaving employers and migrants to make choices with less influence of public brightest” (e.g. facilitation of 2 -steps migration, attractive packages, active policy on international recruitment promotion campaign) … Coordination & cooperation can provide value added if one takes advantage of Size Diversity Economies of scale Outreach/Branding This is where EU level policy can make a difference The objective is to regain a comparative advantage
Policies have addressed most categories, but in a rigid framework Duration of policy process for recent legal migration directives 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 Long-term residence Students Duration from first official mention to Researchers proposal by the Commission Duration to adoption EU Blue Card Duration to transposition deadline Single permit Duration to final transposition Seasonal workers Intra-company Revised proposal transfers EU achieved a great deal in setting common standards … but national schemes are still perceived as more flexible and efficient for attracting and retaining talents
More needs to be done to support migration management and mobility Improve the general framework • Improve the framework for recognition of qualifications for TCNs • Reinforce related support and mobility (portability) procedures • Develop and reinforce EU-wide job-matching databases • Link databases with compatible labour migration channels Streamline procedures • Standardise application forms for labour migrants • Strengthen the EU Immigration Portal (gateway for initial contact) Increase adaptability of the regulatory framework • Build more flexibility into the regulatory cycle • Develop the labour migration component in mobility partnerships
EU “branding” should be improved Improve the general framework Streamline procedures Develop active promotion • Certain EU permits (e.g., Blue Card, Long Term Residence) granting priority access to border crossing points • Promote and prioritise status change to EU permits • Increase outreach in origin countries through EU diplomatic presence
EU permits should offer clearer benefits Improve the general framework Streamline procedures Develop active promotion Build an attractive package • Increase opportunities for intra-EU mobility • Build a bridge between EU permits within and across Member States
EU permits should offer clearer benefits Improve the general framework Streamline procedures Develop active promotion Build an attractive package Reform the Blue Card • Lower salary threshold • …
The Blue Card salary threshold should be lowered Share of gross full-time earnings above national threshold for the Blue Card (and similar permits in non-Blue Card EU Member States), tertiary-educated only 90 80 70 Total Under age 30 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 LT SK BG EL FR EE HR SE HU PL FI CZ LV BE ES* EE* ES SI HU* NL AT DE LU DE* IT DK PT UK LU* IE DE* source: EU-SILC, G-SOEP(German). * refers to lower thresholds for shortage occupations. Tertiary ≤ 29 of LU* & DE* not above reliability threshold. In addition to a lower threshold, there should be separate income thresholds for younger workers and new EU graduates
EU permits should offer clearer benefits Improve the general framework Streamline procedures Develop active promotion Build an attractive package Reform the Blue Card • Lower salary threshold • Reduce required contract duration, waiting period prior to mobility • Waive labour market tests for labour migrants changing status into the Blue Card • Faster access to EU Long Term Resident status • Develop a “Blue -Card- Ready” pool of pre -qualified candidates
16/11 Thank you for your attention For further information: www.oecd.org/migration jean-christophe.dumont@oecd.org jonathan.chaloff@oecd.org
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