SKILLS4JUSTICE (S4J) – Skill Partnerships For Sustainable And Just Migration Patterns

Problem statement: In many countries, there is a shortage or increasing demand for skilled workers, particularly in the IT sector, nursing, or skilled trades. Concurrently, there are both regular and irregular migration movements. Irregular migration leads to significant disadvantages for individuals in terms of access to the labor market, which is not legally possible, but regular labor migration also proves challenging for all stakeholders. Lack of quantitative alignment between qualifications and job opportunities is just one of the challenges. In addition, qualification systems inadequately respond to changing requirements. Currently, there is little clarity on how origin and destination countries can contribute to ensuring that migration occurs fairly, effectively, and sustainably in the context of labor migration. Systemic solutions are particularly missing. The SKILLS4JUSTICE project aims to establish evidence-based foundations for the design of fair, effective, and sustainable regular migration within the framework of skill partnerships. Additionally, a toolkit will be developed to support policymakers and stakeholders in the labor and vocational training contexts in steering measures toward fair, effective, and sustainable development.

Problem statement (expanded): In many countries, there is a shortage or increasing demand for skilled workers, particularly in the IT sector, nursing, or skilled trades. Concurrently, migration occurs, often resulting in discrepancies between qualifications acquired in the country of origin and those demanded in destination countries. These discrepancies, termed 'mismatches,' affect the individual, labor market-related, and structural-political levels. In the context of work and migration, on an individual level, these mismatches may involve overqualification for performed tasks or a lack of access to education and training. At the company level, and thus the labor market, the use of migrant workers often serves to overcome personnel shortages. Additionally, companies frequently fail to consider them as a target group in their recruiting strategies. On a structural level, the problem arises from differences in vocational education and training opportunities between origin and destination countries, which also do not align with the actual needs of each respective country.

Objective: SKILLS4JUSTICE aims to contribute to the fair management of migration in the context of work and qualifications, firstly by generating contextual knowledge, and secondly, by scientifically supported development of a toolkit for establishing cross-border skill partnerships.

Research questions: The research questions in the project are tailored to different contexts. They all share the following questions:

• Where is there a demand for skilled workers, and what role does labor migration play in this context?
• What are the needs and shortages regarding skilled workers in both groups of countries compared, and what opportunities and areas of action arise for both sides in the context of skill partnerships?
• What perspectives do migrant workers have on the problem?
• Which factors promote/hinder qualification and recruiting in both groups of countries, and under what conditions can the countries of origin leverage positive effects of labor migration?

Research approach: The consortium partners are divided into origin and destination countries. In both groups, work is initially carried out independently, with both groups operating within a common research framework. The results are then brought together, consolidated, and developed into scientific publications as well as the toolkit across the work packages.

The theoretical framework encompasses concepts of qualification alignment, historical institutionalism, the skill ecosystem, and the capability approach.

The methodological approach is the same for all countries and begins with the selection and analysis of quantitative data at the country level. Following a cross-country analysis, there is a deepening of understanding of the findings and the development of perspectives and solutions through the use of qualitative interviews. Further deepening and validation occur through focus groups. When collecting qualitative data, relevant political, vocational education and training, and labor market-related stakeholders, as well as migrant workers, especially returnees, are involved.

Results: The project delivers research papers, conference contributions, and a toolkit for the development of sustainable, fair skill partnerships between origin and destination countries.