Labour Market Shortages in the European Union

This study, provided by Policy Department A to the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, gives an overview of labour shortages, looking at their types and causes, their occurrence within the EU 28 and possible measures to counter them. It finds that there are no overall quantitative shortages at EU 28 level in the wake of the economic crisis, but qualitative shortages, especially relating to skills shortages and mismatch, occur in several regions, sectors, occupations and member countries. Employers and member countries are the prime actors to counter labour shortages effectively, but the EU can play an important supporting role through its influence on intra-EU mobility, by increasing the transparency of the labour market and by using its structural funds as supportive frameworks.