In 2016 the employment rate of Third Country Nationals (TCNs) was 15.2% points lower than EU citizens, with women and refugees struggling more. Even when employed, TCNs usually work below their qualification and skills (40% of highly educated in employment, compared to 20% of EU natives), they are over represented in some sectors and perform worse in wages, protection and career prospects (Eurostat, EU Labour Force Survey).
The inclusion of TCNs in the labour market is not only key for their effective integration in European societies, but also contributes to Member States economies. However, TCNs in Europe still face strong barriers in accessing the labour market and there is still a mismatch between labour market and migrants’ profiles: stakeholders, including employers, often lack knowledge on TCN’s employment and/or diversity management skills, and sometimes stereotypes and discriminatory practices still persist. On the other hand, comprehensive information, training, employment and guidance support for migrants – able to engage the most vulnerable – are still scarce.
This situation is especially true for those struggling with economic performance and migration: Greece, Italy and Spain are the gateway to Europe (173.000 sea arrivals in 2017, UNHCR). Also here and in other countries, like Austria, populism and discrimination have resurged.
Useful programmes and initiatives are underway to integrate TCNs in the labour market. However, they are still mostly fragmented actions and they need to be intensified, based on multi-stakeholder collaborations and focused on both employers’ engagement and migrants’ overall support (European Dialogue on Skills and Migration 23/05/2017). Local actors (public authorities, social/economic parties, employment services and third sector organisations) need more opportunities to share and implement tailored made, comprehensive and effective intervention models.
The main objective of the project is to develop, implement and mainstream an effective model of integrated services for Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), based on multi-sectorial competences, mobilisation of actors and migrants’ cultural, social and economic needs.
Direct beneficiaries of the project are:
- 60 actors/stakeholders in Europe, whose competencies, methodologies and tools for TCNs’ integration on the labour market will be strengthened and enhanced
- First level beneficiaries: 120 TCNs (including 20 refugees) will be trained and supported through the MILE model (ad-hoc training, tutoring, work experience and post-placement support)
- Second level beneficiaries: 400 TCNs will benefit of the Improved and strengthened training, employment and job guidance services
- Actors and stakeholders from further 6 EU countries reached through the dissemination and mainstreaming phase
Indirect beneficiaries of the action are:
- Employers, reached through employers’ associations (some of them included in the partnership) and local networks to engage them so as to promote successful TCNs integration paths
- Public and private stakeholders, reached through communication campaign
- Third country nationals, including refugees, reached by a direct information campaign regarding local services and opportunities offered by the project, through informal events and online communication
- Local and EU population, reached through online communication and campaigns aimed at raising awareness towards TCNs’ contribution to economies, fighting stereotypes
Foreseen Activities
The project is based on a transnational partnership of private and public organisations in 4 EU countries (5 cities, 8 partners, 14 associates). The action improves key-actors’ practices and promotes a comprehensive approach to effectively support TCNs’ work inclusion. Organisations foster a structured cooperation at local and EU level, based on a triple-win approach: for TCN, employers and employment services.
The activities foreseen by the project are:
- Assessment of employers’ needs and capacity-building for partners and stakeholders
- On-going multistakeholder Working Groups established to share experiences and solutions
- Development and implementation of a methodology for labour integration of TCNs, focusing on women and youth, at 2 levels:
- An innovative, comprehensive and tailored made support (MILE model)
- Improved and strengthened training, employment and job guidance services
- Dissemination and mainstreaming: study visits, trainings, exchanges and sharing of results at local and European level, to favor MILE’s transfer; creation of second-level networks, to increase awareness on migrants’ labour integration and contribution to Europe economy.