The European Parliament announced on Thursday (March 20) its endorsement of the creation of a European Union (EU) Talent Pool which will make it easier to recruit non-EU nationals for jobs in sectors that are suffering from chronic labor shortage.

In a press release, Rapporteur Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew, Sweden) welcomed the parliament's backing of the online recruitment platform saying, "The EU is falling behind its competitors, partly because of labor shortages across our economy. Labour migration is one way to address these shortages and strengthen our competitiveness."

Al-Sahlani added that the EU Talent Pool would connect the needs of employers with prospective employees through safe and legal pathways to the EU. "The result will be a Talent Pool platform that is user-friendly for all, with necessary checks on jobseekers and measures to ensure minimum safeguards against exploitation."

The draft rules were approved by 46 votes in favor, 25 against, and 2 abstentions. The next step is that after the report has been endorsed by the European Parliament during the April plenary session, EU member states will enter into discussions on the final provisions of the bill.

InfoMigrants consolidated the information on the EU Talent Pool through this guide.

What is the EU Talent Pool? 

The EU Talent Pool will be the first EU-wide online platform to match the profiles of jobseekers living outside the EU and job vacancies of EU employers. 

The European Commission launched a talent pool pilot initiative in April 2022 specifically aimed at matching those fleeing the war in Ukraine to jobs in the EU labor market. In November 2023, the Commission proposed a regulation to establish an EU Talent Pool for third-country nationals residing in third countries. 

How does it work and who is it open to? 

The EU Talent Pool will be based on a fair recruitment process as outlined by the International Labour Organization's general principles. As such, the platform will be open to all skill and qualification levels.

For employers and jobseekers to match on the platform, participating employers are encouraged to provide details about the job openings such as:

• the person responsible for recruitment
• the company registration number
• and a brief description of their operations
• job description
• the place of work
• working hours
• remuneration
• paid leave

For jobseekers, information on their profile should include:

• preferred EU country
• when they are available
• skills and work experience

Will there be fees involved?

The Commission stressed that the platform should not lead to discriminatory practices and is made available for for free of to registered jobseekers. 

Application of the new legislation would be optional for EU countries and would not affect their right to decide how many third-country workers to admit to their territory. 

Will all EU countries adapt or be part of the EU Talent Pool?

Participation in the EU Talent Pool would be optional for EU countries and would not affect their right to decide how many third-country workers to admit to their territory.

What is the reaction of the different organizations involved in recruitment and labor rights to the proposed EU Talent Pool? 

Migration, in general, is a topic that draws different reactions from different groups. Labor migration is no different. Some opposition groups contest that the government should focus on hiring and employing local talent before recruiting potential employees from other countries. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), for example, issued a position paper in December 2023 position, rejecting the proposed EU talent pool. ETUC called for provisions that would guarantee that the working conditions for migrants will not be lowered and that EU Talent Pool recruitment policies would be aligned with the existing national recruitment systems 

However, many organizations have expressed their support for the EU Talent Pool to manage labor shortages and entice new skilled workers to the EU. For example, employers' associations, such as the European Association of Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafes (HOTREC) fully supported the establishment of an EU talent pool and for the association to be consulted in the designation of the list of shortage occupations. 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also recommended the rollout of the EU Talent Pool and suggested the establishment of a standardized format for national visa/residence permit application forms across the EU States.  

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) welcomed the proposal as an important step in facilitating legal pathways to migration through international recruitment and skills matching. The IOM reiterated the need for transparency in the recruitment process and upholding other principles of ethical recruitment.