Labor Mobility and the Integration of European Labor Markets

Klaus Zimmermann ()

No 3999, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper outlines the importance of labor mobility for the improvement in allocating and distributing economic resources. We are faced with an increasing lack of skilled workers and a growing tendency of unemployment amongst the low-skilled. A central political objective for the future will not only be education policy but also the recruitment of high-skilled workers from international and European labor markets. Additional skilled labor increases well-being and reduces inequality. However, internal European barriers to mobility are difficult to break through. An improved transparency of the European labor market, a greater command of languages and a standardization of the social security system can strengthen mobility. The key to mobility is in promoting the integration of international workers in the European migration process, which can be strengthened through circular migration. The European “blue card” initiative and the opening of labor markets to foreign graduates who have been trained in Europe could set a new course.

Keywords: EU Eastern enlargement; migration effects; migration; free movement of workers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J15 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25 pages
Date: 2009-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec, nep-lab and nep-mig
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Published - published in: E. Nowotny, P. Mooslechner and D. Ritzberger-Grünwald (eds.), The Integration of European Labour Markets, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2009, 9-23

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Related works:
Chapter: Labour Mobility and the Integration of European Labour Markets (2009)
Working Paper: Labor Mobility and the Integration of European Labor Markets (2009)
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