The IOM LINET study Labour Shortages and Migration Policy investigates and assesses the existing pathways for identification of labour and skill shortages, as well as linking labour market needs and labour immigration policy development based on the experience within and outside the European Union (EU). The study aims at placing migration within a broader strategic economic and employment policy discourse and overall goals of boosting growth and competitiveness.    

The publication addresses three main research questions:
a)  How can policymakers assess current and anticipate future skills and labour shortages? 
b) When are these shortages to be addressed through labour immigration?
c) Whether and how can labour market analysis be linked to the development of labour immigration policy to ensure timely, accurate and relevant reflection of labour market needs in admission regulations for the economic migrants?

In order to investigate these issues, IOM conducted seven country case studies intended to capture the various strategies and lessons learnt in Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. This publication presents the findings of these country reports, as well as the summary of the comparative analysis for policy development purposes.