The launch of the ‘EU Talent Pool’ has moved a step closer. It will be the first digital platform that will match vacancies in shortage occupations in EU countries with non-EU jobseekers.
Negotiators from the European Parliament and Council (which represents EU governments) agreed on Tuesday the key elements of the platform, which should facilitate the recruitment of third country nationals in sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, construction, transport, IT, engineering and mathematics.
“Employers across all member states and sectors are experiencing significant labour and skills shortages,” says a paper by BusinessEurope, the confederation of business organisations in Brussels.
“One reason for tighter labour markets is demographic change, with around one million working age people a year currently leaving our labour markets and the projected loss of upto around 30 million working age people by 2050, from 265 million in 2022 to 236 million in 2050,” the group added.
READ ALSO: REVEALED – The new scheme to help non-EU nationals find jobs in Europe
Swedish MEP Abir Al-Sahlani, who led talks on the EU Talent Pool, said: “We have now taken another step towards ensuring that our companies do not fall behind because of labour shortages. The Talent Pool legislation is also a tool to create more safe and legal pathways to the EU while ensuring protection for jobseekers against exploitation.
Overall, it is a huge step in the right direction and instrumental in framing a more positive discussion on migration: it is not necessarily a negative thing, but can be harnessed to help us regain our competitive edge as a Union,” she argued.
But while businesses welcome the new platform, trade unions argue that “shortage occupations” belong to “labour intensive and fraud sensitive industries” and that the solution to the lack of personnel “lies primarily in improving pay and working conditions for all workers, including migrant workers already residing in the EU”.
Here is how the system is supposed to work.
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What is the EU Talent Pool?
The EU Talent Pool aims to link “jobseekers from third countries residing outside the Union” and “employers established in the participating member states”.
EU countries can join the digital platform on a voluntary basis. Vacancies advertised will be those within the EU list of shortage occupations, which will be developed by the European Commission based on indications from EU states, and with “possible national and regional adjustments”.
Who can sign up?
As regards employers, which include temporary work agencies or intermediaries, member states will have to ensure that they are established legally in the country where the person will be working. They will also have to comply with the law regarding recruitment and working conditions, non-discrimination, and protection against human trafficking.
Employers that have breached the law will be suspended or removed from the platform.
Jobseekers will be able to create their profile providing information about skills, qualifications, work experience, knowledge of languages, availability to start work and preferred country.
They will be able to use the platform to search for vacancies, which will have to mention at least the name and contact details of the employer, the job description, the place of work, and the salary.
Non-EU nationals who participate in a Talent Partnership, a Commission initiative to help people prepare for jobs in EU with training provided in their country, will be able to flag their qualifications in their profiles.
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How much will it cost?
Participation is the EU Talent Pool will be free for both jobseekers and employers.
Who will manage the platform?
The European Commission will set up and manage the platform. Participating countries will establish contact points that will transmit to the EU team job vacancies and shortage occupations lists.
Similar to the EURES (EURopean Employment Services) portal, employers will not be able to post jobs directly.
What will be the immigration procedure?
The creation of the EU Talent Pool does not change immigration procedures. Work and residence permits will be issued by member states according to their immigration rules. Countries, however, will be free to set up accelerated procedures for workers selected via the Talent Pool.
The platform will also provide information on immigration procedures and workers’ rights.
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When will it start?
The agreement on the legislative text has to be formally adopted by the European Parliament and Council before entering into force. The Commission will then develop the platform.
The Commission launched a talent pool pilot initiative in April 2022 to help people fleeing the war in Ukraine find jobs in the EU under the EURES (EURopean Employment Services) portal, now Europass. Participating countries are Croatia, Czechia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Spain.
