Tackling labour shortages in EU Member StatesForthcoming

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, a high demand for labour and low unemployment levels made labour shortages one of the key policy concerns in the EU. Even where there is persistent and rising unemployment, individual countries, sectors and occupations are experiencing labour shortages, which in some instances have been accentuated by COVID-19. This report explores various approaches to measuring labour shortages and maps national policy debates around the issue. It documents public and social partner initiatives to tackle the issue, using a typology focusing on different measures to attract labour, activate underused resources and enhance the use of existing labour.