Immigration and Its Impacts on EU Labour Markets

After a longer hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are very happy to be back with our ZEW Lunch Debates series in Brussels.
 
One year on from Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, it has become clear that the effects of the war, both direct and indirect, will last for many years and permeate throughout the whole of Europe. Both the migration and employment crises pose major challenges for the European Union. In our upcoming Lunch Debate, we will discuss how immigration is impacting EU labour markets. Many countries in the European Union are facing chronic labour shortages. These shortages, stemming from demographic change or out-migration, increasingly threaten the smooth functioning of labour markets. At the same time, EU Member States are experiencing a massive influx of workforce through immigration. How do employment, unemployment, wages or job content respond to immigration? Are there winners – and losers? Do migrants “take” jobs from domestic workers, or do they create new jobs? May immigration even be a remedy to labour market shortages? And what is the European answer to the employment challenge? The European Union urgently needs to commit to providing comprehensive responses to these challenges with the particular objectives of creating good jobs in Europe and managing migration flows better.
 
At our Lunch Debate, experts from the European Commission, labour unions, corporations and academia will discuss approaches to facilitate labour mobility and promote migrant integration. The recently published ZEW policy brief, “Tailoring Migration Policies to Address Labour Shortages”, by Dr. Katrin Sommerfeld will provide the basis for the debate.

Event time: 12:00 - 02:00 p.m.

MODERATOR

• Prof. Dr. Nicolas R. Ziebarth // Head of ZEW’s Research Unit "Labour Markets and Social Insurance"

PODIUM SPEAKERS

• Ben Butters // CEO Eurochambres
• Barbara Kauffmann // DG EMPL, Director Employment
• Dr. Katrin Sommerfeld // Head of ZEW’s Junior Research Group "Integration of Migrants and Attitudes towards the Welfare State (IMES)"
• Barbara Surdykowska // Solidarnosc, PL

Registration upon personal invitation only. If you are interested in joining the Lunch Debate, please contact our event team under lunchdebates@zew.de.