The labour market situation of EU and of Third Country Nationals in the European Union

Abstract

"In this study the authors first describe the size and structure of the non-national polulation and labour force in the 15 EU member states. They then attempt to determine whether nationals and non-nationals face the same labour market conditions. The most important labour market situation indicators are rates of unemployment, employment and self-employment. Since individuals' employment status affects their social status, successfully integrating non-national into the labour market plays role in their integration into the host society. In 1995 the non-national labour force in the European Union totalled about 7.8 million; almost 3 million were citizens of EU member states. The latter have the same legal standing as the national labour force. In all of the EU member states together, there are less than two percent of workers from other member states. The study found a striking difference in the situation of nationals and non-nationals regarding unemployment, employment and self-employment. The non-nationals' unemployment rates generelly exceeded those of the nationals; in many member states the unemployment retes of EU-nationals fell between those for nationals and those for third-country non-nationals. The employment rates of non-nationals were also different from those of the nationals. Employment rates of female third-country non-nationals were particularly low. This, taken together with the disproportionate unemployment of female third-country nonnationals, indicates a particularly difficult labour market situation. In some countries EU nationals were more inclined to risk self-employment than nationals or third-country non-nationals. It may generally be said that the gap between rates of self-employment of nationals and non-nationals has narrowed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Kiehl, M. & Werner, H. (1998): The labour market situation of EU and of Third Country Nationals in the European Union. In: IAB Labour Market Research Topics No. 32, p. 1-25.