Europe is facing a growing skilled labor shortage, exacerbated by demographic shifts and an aging workforce. Meanwhile, migration remains a politically charged issue, often overshadowed by crisis narratives rather than structured, long-term policy solutions.
EPIC’s latest report, WorkPass EU, explores the potential of a European Migrant Visa—modeled on successful programs in Canada and Australia—to create a demand-driven, structured pathway for labor migration. By aligning migration with sectoral and regional workforce needs, such a system could:
✅ Boost competitiveness by providing industries with the skilled workers they urgently need.
✅ Strengthen social security by ensuring new workers contribute to pensions and welfare systems.
✅ Reduce irregular migration through clear legal pathways.
✅ Maintain national flexibility while ensuring a coordinated EU approach.
With an innovative, points-based selection model and a structured residency pathway, WorkPass EU proposes a bold new approach to labor migration that prioritizes economic stability and social resilience.
