Supply and Demand? Optimising Labour Mobility Models for the Netherlands and Africa

The severity of labour market shortages in the Netherlands has reached record highs, placing national rates of productivity and economic growth at risk. The situation is not expected to improve in the coming years, leaving policy makers and employers across the EU with the shared challenge of alleviating the impact of an acute lack of skills. Does the continent of Africa, and its robust pool of highly skilled talent represent part of the solution to this challenge? Are we looking at a simple matter of supply and demand?

The MATCH project, a three-year pilot project funded by the European Commission, has promoted the circular mobility of highly skilled talent from Nigeria and Senegal to fill labour shortages in four EU member states, including the Netherlands. As the project reaches the end of its implementation period, the Dutch team is organising a closing conference to celebrate the project’s accomplishments, disseminate lessons learned, and foster engagement between various public and private sector actors for the benefit of future initiatives. The event will provide practical information and guidance to companies and other stakeholders about matching Dutch demands with African talent pools and will address the necessary conditions for creating a triple win scenario for the countries of origin and destination, as well as the African talent themselves.