Qualifications and International Mobility: A Case Study of the European Chemicals Industry

Abstract

The right of European citizens to work in other member states has been in place for many years, yet levels of movement have been lower than expected. Employers play a central role in facilitating mobility, by recruiting across national boundaries and transferring staff. Their practices are therefore likely to have a considerable impact on the extent of movement, and on the type of employees involved. This article explores the practices of employers in the chemicals industry, a key sector of the European economy. The focus of the research, which was commissioned by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), was on the recruitment and transfer practices of employers, and their treatment of ‘foreign’ qualifications. The article identifies the range of approaches found in the industry and presents some of the main issues to employers in relation to recruitment and transfer across member states.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

CEDEFOP (1996), Mobility and migration of labour in the European Union and their specific implications for young people, Thessaloniki, CEDEFOP document 1996.

Dummett, A. (1995), ‘Internal movement in the European Community’, in Cohen, R. (ed.), The Cambridge Survey of World Migration, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Fischer, P. , Martin, R. and Staubhaar, T. (1997), ‘Should I stay or should I go? in Hammar, T. , Brochmann, G ., Tamas, K . and Faist, T . (eds), International Migration, Immobility and Development, Oxford and New York, Berg, p. 74.

King, R. (1997), ‘Restructuring and socio-spatial mobility in Europe: the role of international migrants’, in Blotvogel, H. and Fielding, A. (eds), People, Jobs and Mobility in the New Europe, Chichester, John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Rolfe, H. and Byre, A. (1995), Labour Mobility in the European Market, London, Policy Studies Institute.

Rolfe, H. , Taylor, P. , Casey, B. , Christie, I. and McRae, S. (1994), Employers’ Role in the Supply of Intermediate Skills, London, Policy Studies Institute.

Salt, J. (1996), ‘Economic developments within the EU: the role of population movements’, in Corry, D. (ed.), Economics and European Union Migration Policy, London, Institute of Public Policy Research, pp. 76-92.

Salt, J. and Ford, R. (1993), ‘Skilled international migration in Europe: the shape of things to come?’, in King, R. (ed.), Mass Migration in Europe - The Legacy and the Future, London, Belhaven Press.

Salt, J. , Mervin, J. and Shortland, J. (1993), ‘The cost of international relocation’, Relocation News, 26, pp. 4-7.

10.

Straubhaar, T. and Wolter, A. (1997), ‘Globalization, internal labour-markets and the migration of the highly skilled’, Intereconomics, July/August, p.180.

11.

White Paper on Education and Training (1997), To Teach and to Learn: Towards the Learning Society, COM(97) 256 fin, Brussels, European Union.

12.

Worldscope Global Equity Database (1997), Shannon, Worldscope/Disclosure LLC.