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

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.