How can labour migration deliver more balanced outcomes for individuals, countries of origin and countries of destination? This question is at the heart of the ETF Thematic Community on Skills and Migration (MIGCOM) and its triple-win approach.
MIGCOM brings together international experts as part of ETF’s wider work on the skills dimension of migration, helping citizens in partner countries strengthen their employability in a global labour market. As migration patterns, skills formation and labour markets continue to evolve, the relationship between mobility and human capital is becoming both more important and more complex. Well-designed labour migration can support skills development and economic opportunities, while poorly aligned systems may contribute to skills mismatches or talent loss.
New evidence from the MIGCOM community
In 2026, this triple-win perspective took more concrete shape through two new publications, available on the ETF Skills and migration webpage. Together, they bring together 19 articles by MIGCOM members, drawing on new evidence and a range of quantitative and qualitative approaches to examine the relationship between skills, employment and migration and offering insights relevant to policymakers and practitioners.
Skills for fair, efficient labour migration presents policy-oriented research on aligning skills development, qualifications recognition and migration governance to support more balanced and mutually beneficial outcomes. Skills and migration in changing labour markets examines how transformations in labour markets, migration systems and skills formation are reshaping the relationship between mobility and human capital.
The key messages from these publications have also been distilled into four easy-to-read infographics. Findings and recommendations were presented and discussed at a dedicated policy forum held in Brussels in June 2026, which brought together policy-makers from European Commission services working on labour migration, including DG EMPL, DG HOME, DG MENA, DG ENEST and DG INTPA. The main messages from the forum are available on the ETF website.
Looking towards 2027
MIGCOM is now developing further activities for 2027 to deepen understanding of rapidly changing labour migration dynamics through a skills lens and strengthen the evidence base for relevant policies.
The community already brings together more than 460 members from around the world, covering 67 countries . Members are warmly invited to join through this membership form, invite colleagues, and contribute ideas and evidence to future exchanges and activities.
For more information, contact migration-team@etf.europa.eu.
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