Page 123 - IJPS-10-3

International Journal of
Population Studies COVID-19 and low-skilled workforce in the EU

Figure 1. Proportions of natives, intra-EU mobile workers, and non-EU migrant workers in key occupations. Note: Occupations are defined following
ISCO two-digit classification.
Source: Fasani & Mazza (2020a).
informal conditions (Foley & Piper, 2020; Dotsey, 2021; et al., 2020; van Hooren, 2020). Notwithstanding low-skilled
Giammarinaro & Palumbo, 2020; Sanfelici, 2021). At the migrants’ significant contributions to EU economies, they
other end of the spectrum, caregivers also experienced are often overlooked in migration discussions and policy
reduced working hours and wages, lost income, or initiatives. Migration policies in many EU countries have
faced increased risk of unemployment due to decreased focused primarily on closing or fortifying internal and
economic activities (Foley & Piper, 2020; Sanfelici, 2021). external borders and pushing back unwanted immigrants
Some live-in domestic care workers were laid off, thereby while attracting high-skilled migrants.
losing a place to stay (ILO, 2020). In addition, individuals Low-skilled migration is an intensely contentious
employed in institutional settings, even those on stable topic. The distribution of low-skilled migrants in key
contracts, experienced reduced working hours, layoffs, or sectors exposed them disproportionately to precarious and
the constant fear of losing their jobs due to the closure of vulnerable conditions. The pandemic further restricted
their wards following COVID-19 deaths and/or a minimal labor mobility and migration, constraining further labor
admission of new patients (Dotsey et al., 2023). Therefore, choices with implications for vulnerability to exploitation.
the pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities, unstable While low-skilled migration in the care sector, for example,
environments, and severe socioeconomic repercussions is essential to EU economies, the group of migrants
faced by the frail and high-risk populations. The decrease working in this sector has remained outside EU policy
in purchasing power has put the already vulnerable groups initiatives related to labor migration management over the
who are more likely to work in informal sectors, including years (Triandafyllidou & Marchetti, 2014). The pandemic
women, refugees, low-skilled workers, and irregular has reaffirmed the essential role of low-skilled migrants
migrants, at increased risks of being exploited and abused. in EU economies, showing that these migrant groups
cannot be excluded from public policy and debates. It is
4. Low-skilled workers, COVID-19, and thus a clarion call to all EU Member States to individually
labor migration: Time to call the shots? and collectively craft policies to improve the inclusion
The pandemic has highlighted the role of migrants, of marginalized populations, particularly low-skilled
including low-skilled migrants, as frontline workers in key migrants, in their public and immigration policies to create
sectors in the EU (Isaac & Elrick, 2021). Recent research situations wherein all parties could benefit.
and policy papers show that the public has recognized the This commentary offers some practical policy
crucial role of migrants during the pandemic in keeping recommendations for the inclusion of the low-skilled
essential service sectors functioning (Fernández-Reino migrant workforce in the public and migration policies. In

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 117 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2165