Shaping the future of labour mobility

Positioning EURES for the future of transnational recruitment in Europe

Client

Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini

The Challenge

The European Labour Authority (ELA) commissioned a study to assess how the EURES network can further develop their services in the fast-changing world of work its impact on transnational recruitment. As part of the study was to research other pan-European providers of transnational recruitment and placement services as well as trends, use of technology and employers’ recruitment practices. With transnational labour mobility becoming more complex and competitive, ELA needed a clear understanding of how EURES compares to peer providers in those aspects.

What We Did

Working with Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini, together with my colleague Miguel Peromingo, I served as a co-lead expert on transnational recruitment markets. My work focused on analysing the positioning of EURES against global and pan-European private providers and identifying areas for EURES strategic growth opportunities.

Our key activities included:

  • Designing and delivering a comprehensive desk research plan on international recruitment trends, emerging technologies, and skills-based hiring practices.

  • Conducting stakeholder interviews and leading a high-level focus group with employers, recruiters, EU-level organisations, and EURES stakeholders to test assumptions and ground recommendations.

  • Developing a structured comparison matrix to assess EURES’ service portfolio against peer providers across several dimensions, such as job matching, jobseeker support, and mobility-related services.

  • Drafting a strategic report, including clear, actionable recommendations on how EURES could enhance its service offer and remain competitive, especially in sectors with acute labour shortages.

Outcome

The final report provided ELA with a robust, evidence-based analysis of EURES’ position in the European recruitment market. It included:

  • A mapped landscape of major peer providers

  • An overview of emerging trends, including the shift towards skills-based hiring and AI-driven tools

  • A set of strategic and operational recommendations to strengthen EURES’ service offer and relevance in the coming years

This work will inform EURES’ longer-term strategy and help shape policy and practice at both EU and national levels in supporting fair and effective labour mobility.