Labour migration in times of labour shortages

In light of labour shortages in the EU this study provides a comparative overview of how EMN Member and Observer Countries regulate labour migration, covering legal and policy frameworks, admission criteria, procedures, and governance arrangements. It analyses the different labour migration pathways, and demonstrates their numerical relevance, and outlines policy and legislative developments between 2021 and 2024. The study identifies recurring challenges such as lengthy administrative procedures and integration barriers, while also highlighting good practices, including the increasing digitalization of administrative procedures, and ethical recruitment approaches. For Austria and other EMN Countries, the study offers key insights to support the development of coherent, demand-driven and fair labour migration policies.