In the European labour market, worker mobility can help address regional imbalances Yet migrant workers often face difficulties in negotiating the labour market at their destination.
This paper reviews ReferNet research reports from several European countries on the problems migrant workers face, and examines whether these workers could benefit from vocational training.
The answer is a tentative ‘yes’. Difficulties in the labour market can often be due to a lack of social capital, i.e. the network of contacts that help individuals to move proficiently within a social environment. Training institutions which involve social partners and local communities can effectively fill this gap for migrant workers.