The labour market and employment relationships in the EU are faced with a change of paradigm, with the population ageing and imbalances between supply and demand, which, alongside the epidemic, causes a reduction in the number of workers and the formation of new HR management approaches. Although intra-EU mobility is legally well regulated and well established, the EU labour market is experiencing a major labour shortage. Employers are seeking for labour force outside the EU; in doing so they are facing numerous challenges: administrative barriers, long procedures, language barriers, integration difficulties, mistrust of trade unions and citizens in general, etc. EU and national social partners play an important role in establishing new labour market relationships and in policy-making related to the employment of third-country nationals. The project "Encouraging employment of third-country nationals through social dialogue" will examine in detail the labour markets of participating countries and search for areas, where labour markets’ needs can be addressed through the employment of third-country nationals.
