Recruiting skilled workers: EU talent pool aims to help

A talent pool will serve as a central digital platform to support companies in recruiting skilled workers from non-EU countries. Employers will be able to post their job openings free of charge across Europe or search specifically for suitable profiles.

Given the increasing shortage of skilled workers in Europe, craft businesses are also facing major challenges. The European Commission has presented a proposal, the EU Talent Pool , which specifically aims to attract qualified workers from non-EU countries.

The platform is planned to be established in 2027 , with the corresponding regulation entering into force on June 1, 2026. Participation in the platform is voluntary for member states. The German government has signaled its general willingness to participate.

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Key features of the EU talent pool

• Registration and access: Job seekers from third countries create profiles on the IT platform. These profiles can also be linked to other relevant portals and are visible to employers. 
  
  
• Teilnahme: Employers wishing to participate should contact the contact point. This point will provide its Job Offers Available on the platform. Participation is open to companies and professionals from third countries. for free and limited to so-called EU-wide shortage occupations. Offers for apprenticeships and internships are excluded.
  
  
• Shortage occupations: The annex to the regulation lists shortage occupations ISCO-08 including many classic craft professions such as Roofers, refrigeration system installers or Bricklayer. Participating countries can adapt the list to their national needs.
  
  
• Search and matching functions: Employers can search specifically for suitable profiles or have suggestions generated by an automated matching tool. Job seekers also have access to suitable job offers through this tool.
  
  
• Platform structure: States will transmit the data via the new IT platform. Job Offers from companies that then Europe They become visible. Each national contact point ensures the technical integration with the national system.
  
  
• Committees and administration: A secretariat and a steering committee will manage the operational implementation. The European Commission will act as the secretariat. The steering committee will include representatives from the Commission, participating states – for Germany, likely the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and the Federal Employment Agency – as well as representatives of the social partners at EU level.
  
  
• National contact points: Each participating country designates a national body to serve as an interface for administration and implementation. In Germany, this is likely to be the Federal Employment Agency.

Securing skilled workers remains one of the biggest challenges to the competitiveness of craft businesses. The craft trade organization views the European Union's provision of a digital tool, the Talent Pool, on a voluntary basis as fundamentally positive. It also welcomes the fact that the issuance of work and residence permits remains the responsibility of the member states.

Source: ZDH

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