Migrants, Minorities, Mismatch? Skill Mismatch among Migrants and Ethnic Minorities in Europe

Abstract

With Europe slowly but steadily exiting from the economic crisis, long-term trends such as skill upgrading and population ageing, and their implications for the availability and demand for skills, are returning to the policy debate. Migration is often seen as an effective instrument to alleviate possible labour-market shortages in Europe. The European Union (EU) is taking action to tap the potential of migrants more effectively by promoting integration and removing barriers to employment, such as discrimination and insufficient recognition of skills. This can contribute to reducing the waste of skills occurring when highly educated migrants find themselves employed in low-skilled or low-quality jobs.