European citizens' attitudes towards labour mobility after the pandemic
Today, the Commission published a Special Eurobarometer on intra-EU labour mobility after the pandemic.
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The report surveyed over 26,000 EU citizens between May and June 2022 and found that almost 1 in 5 Europeans envisage working outside their own country in the future.
Key findings
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18% of EU-citizens envisage working abroad in the future, which is stable compared to 2009 (17%). Yet, the motivation to move has slightly changed: earning more money has lost some importance (31%, -4 percentage points), while aspects such as liking the culture or mentality have increased (34%, +2 percentage points).
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Most labour mobility within Europe remains long-term; 62% of mobile European workers have been abroad for more than a year and 73% of those considering mobility also plan to stay abroad for more than one year.
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Germany is the most popular choice for those who envisage working abroad, followed by Switzerland, Spain, the United Kingdom and Northern America.
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The majority of Europeans (58%) perceive labour mobility positively. Citizens’ attitude is more positive in some countries than in others: Citizens in Lithuania, Spain, Ireland and Portugal are most supportive of labour mobility. The positive attitude towards labour mobility is higher among people who have experienced it. 40% said their work skills and qualifications improved and more than 50% considered living and working abroad as an important experience with positive effects beyond the professional life.
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The right to move and work without work permit, the full recognition of qualifications and the transferability of pension rights are seen, together with equal pay for equal work, as key components of fair mobility.
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Personal contacts (51%), dedicated online job search tools (34%) and online social networks (32%) are the main channels used to find a job in another country.
Background
More than 15 million EU citizens are exercising their right to live or work in an EU country other than that of their nationality. As highlighted in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan: Intra-EU Labour mobility is at the heart of the EU single market and fair mobility is essential to ensure Europe’s economic recovery and green and digital transition.
The pandemic has shown the importance of intra-EU labour mobility for the functioning of the single market and the general welfare. Many mobile workers perform functions that are essential to the EU societies, often under challenging working conditions.
The Eurobarometer also underpins the findings of the 2021 report on Intra-EU labour mobility: Workers go abroad for some years and then go back to their country of nationality with additional skills and experiences.
The previous Eurobarometer on Geographical and Labour Market Mobility was published in 2010, covering very much the same questions, thus allowing to compare the situation with 2022. Overall, Europeans’ attitudes towards mobility show remarkable continuity and remain very positive – in spite of the political and economic changes over these 12 years.