Structural barriers trap non-EU workers in temporary jobs
Non-EU citizens remain significantly more likely to work in precarious roles than EU nationals, a divide that risks wasting vital talent as the bloc relies on migrant labour to plug workforce shortages.
In 2025, non-EU citizens aged 20 to 64 in the bloc are still the most likely demographic to hold temporary or part-time jobs, according to new Eurostat data. While the share of non-EU nationals in precarious work has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, a persistent gap remains between them and native workers.
Roughly 22% of non-EU citizens worked part-time last year, compared to 17% of nationals and 20% of EU citizens living in another member state. The Netherlands, Finland, and France showed the largest disparities in part-time work. For temporary contracts, Cyprus, the Netherlands, and Poland all recorded rates above 40% for non-EU workers between 2015 and 2025.
For European economies facing acute labour shortages, this partitioning of the workforce carries a clear cost. Businesses struggling to hire are denied an available labour pool, constrained by barriers that prevent migrant workers from moving into stable, long-term roles that would increase productivity.
Joanna Hofman, director of research at Ipsos, attributes most of this divide to structural obstacles rather than personal preference. "Many non-EU citizens face additional barriers in accessing stable, permanent jobs, including language barriers, non-recognition of qualifications, more limited professional networks, discrimination, and immigration-related restrictions," she said. "As a result, they are more likely to enter the labour market through more precarious forms of employment."
While some migrants actively seek seasonal or short-term arrangements, Hofman noted these are the exception. "However, I would expect structural labour market barriers to explain most of the difference."
Women face a compounding disadvantage across all citizenship groups. They hold higher shares of temporary and part-time work, with the most pronounced gaps for temporary contracts in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Hofman pointed to caring responsibilities and the concentration of women in sectors like health, social care, education, and hospitality, where temporary contracts are standard.
Self-employment offers a different metric of integration, and here nationals also lead at 13.5%, compared to 10.9% for other EU citizens and 10.1% for non-EU citizens. Nationals recorded particularly high shares in Greece and Italy, while other EU citizens peaked in Croatia and Portugal. "Nationals are generally more likely to possess these resources and have fewer administrative barriers," Hofman said, adding that non-EU nationals "may also face additional legal or visa-related constraints, making self-employment less accessible."
