Skills without borders: making talent count across Europe

In many cases, a company is struggling to find the right candidate, while a qualified professional elsewhere in Europe is ready to fill the role. The talent is there, the demand is there, but sometimes the connection fails. Why? Because when workers cross borders, their skills aren’t always immediately recognised.

Moving to a new country to work shouldn’t mean starting from zero. Yet, too often, qualifications and experience gained in one European country are difficult to verify, compare or interpret in another. This ‘skills portability’ gap is a major hurdle for both jobseekers chasing career opportunities and employers searching for talent.

Navigating the recognition maze

Two recent reports from the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) – an EU agency that focuses on job training, career skills, and education – shine a light on what’s blocking the path to skills portability. One major barrier is complexity and inconsistency. Recognition rules for vocational qualifications vary widely from country to country. In some places, the process is straightforward; in others, it’s a maze of different institutions and unclear procedures. This is especially true for non-regulated professions, where transparency is often lowest. If an employer can’t quickly verify the value of a jobseeker’s foreign qualification, they might hesitate to hire them, leading to skills mismatches where qualified people end up underemployed.

Tackling the digital disconnect

The second barrier is digital fragmentation. While many countries are building digital databases and issuing digital credentials, these systems do not always work seamlessly together. Someone might have a digital certificate from their home country, but if employers in another country cannot verify it quickly, it may not be fully recognised. As Cedefop notes, we are good at issuing digital credentials, but we struggle with verifying them across borders. Without trusted, interoperable digital tools, proving your skills remains unnecessarily complex.

So how do we break down these walls? This is where EURES steps in. While broader EU initiatives such as the upcoming Skills Portability Initiative exist to harmonise rules and connect digital systems, EURES is here to help you navigate the current landscape today.

For jobseekers, a network of EURES Advisers across Europe can guide you through the process and direct you to the relevant authorities that assess and recognise qualifications obtained abroad. They can also guide you on how to present your skills – whether formal, non-formal or informal – so you are better prepared for your job search. Plus, by creating a profile on the EURES portal, you can showcase your skills in a standardised way, making it easier for employers across the continent to find and understand your qualifications.

For employers, EURES Advisers can provide guidance on recruiting from abroad, help you navigate questions related to qualifications obtained in other countries, and support you throughout the cross-border hiring process.

The future of work in Europe is mobile, which is why overcoming the barriers highlighted in the two Cedefop reports on qualification recognition and digital credentials is vital. In the meantime, if you want to stay one step ahead, read up on all the documents you will need when moving abroad.

Skills Portability Initiative

Recognition and validation of foreign VET qualifications in Europe

Digital tools for the portability of learning outcomes

Moving abroad? Get your papers ready

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