EU Talent Pool: what should member states expect?

The European Commission proposed the development of a new online platform in November 2023: the EU Talent Pool. This platform aims to simplify the recruitment of skilled workers from non-EU countries by employers across the 27 member states. The primary goal is to address labor shortages in specific professions.

Development is ongoing and the platform is expected to be completed by 2027. To ensure smooth operation, participating member states will cooperate on making their national databases compatible with the Talent Pool.

The platform will allow job seekers from non-EU countries to create profiles and search for open job vacancies. Participation is limited to member states, so individual employers won’t be able to join the platform.

The EU Talent Pool will highlight EU-funded training or education on a job seeker's profile. For one year, only the funding EU country will be able to see the profile. If no recruitment happens during that period, the profile becomes visible to all participating countries.

The Pool will build upon existing infrastructure, using the EURES job portal for listings and Europass for worker registration. A constantly updated list of in-demand professions is planned.

The European Commission expects 11-20 countries to join by 2030, with more likely to follow. 
Currently, a pilot program called "EU Talent Pool Pilot" is helping Ukrainian refugees find jobs in Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, and Finland.

Estonia backs EU Talent Pool for Non-EU Workers

Estonia has confirmed their support for the EU Talent Pool to ERR.

However, the country stresses participation in the pool should be voluntary for member states and shouldn't impact national immigration policies. Additionally, the Estonian government wants control over which professions can use the pool to fill specific skill gaps.

Estonia is considering joining the initiative, but a final decision depends on an analysis of the associated costs, administrative burdens, and the professions most in need of foreign workers. This decision will be based on forecasts from the Estonian Qualifications Authority.

Participating Countries EU Talent Pool

• Voluntary & Evolving: Participation is optional for member states. While 7 countries are in the pilot, 11–20 are expected by 2030.
• Targeted Hiring: Focuses strictly on labor shortages in sectors like ICT, healthcare, and construction.
• Existing Tools: Integrated with EURES and Europass; it is a matching tool, not a new visa pathway.
• Employer Responsibility: Employers must still manage national work permits and visas after a match is made.
• Timeline: Full EU-wide rollout is projected for 2027.

How to Use the EU Talent Pool as an Employer

For HR leaders and talent acquisition teams, the EU Talent Pool represents a significant shift in how European companies can source non-EU talent. The platform eliminates much of the friction in international recruitment but knowing how to navigate it is essential to hiring efficiently and compliantly.

Here is everything employers need to know about accessing the EU Talent Pool, which countries participate, and what happens after you find your candidate.

What the EU Talent Pool Means for Employers

The EU Talent Pool is a free, EU-wide digital matching platform that connects employers in participating member states with skilled non-EU jobseekers residing outside the Union. It targets shortage occupations roles in sectors like healthcare, construction, ICT, engineering, hospitality, and transport where EU labour markets face persistent gaps.

Key facts every employer should know:

• Free to use participation is free for both employers and jobseekers.
• Vacancy-driven matching employers post shortage-occupation roles; the platform matches them with pre-screened non-EU candidate profiles.
• Not a direct application portal employers cannot post jobs directly. Vacancies are submitted through national contact points established in each participating member state.
• No new visa pathway the EU Talent Pool facilitates the match, but existing national immigration routes (EU Blue Card, Single Permit, national work visas) still apply after a match is made.
• Trainees and apprentices excluded the platform cannot be used to recruit for traineeships or apprenticeships.
• Compliance checks apply employers must be legally established in the member state where the role is based, must comply with recruitment and employment law, and can be suspended from the platform for violations.
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Because the full EU Talent Pool platform is still under development (expected fully operational by 2027), employer access currently runs through the EURES infrastructure, the existing European Employment Services network. Here is how to get started:

Step 1 Verify Your Country Is Participating

Check whether your member state has opted into the EU Talent Pool. Participation is voluntary. Use the participating countries table below to confirm your country's status. If your country is not yet participating, you can still access non-EU talent through EURES and national immigration routes.

Step 2 Register on the EURES Portal

Go to eures.europa.eu and create an employer account. EURES is the backbone infrastructure the EU Talent Pool is built upon. Registering here gives you access to the candidate CV database, EURES Advisers, and the vacancy submission system.

Step 3 Submit Your Vacancy Through Your National Contact Point

Under the EU Talent Pool model, employers do not post vacancies directly to the platform. Instead, each participating member state establishes a national contact point that transmits vacancies on behalf of employers. Contact your national public employment service (PES), for example, the Bundesagentur für Arbeit in Germany, the SEPE in Spain, or the PES equivalent in your country, to list your shortage-occupation vacancy in the system.

Step 4 Browse Matched Candidate Profiles

Once your vacancy is live, you will be able to browse matched non-EU candidate profiles. Profiles may be anonymised to protect personal data. If you want to contact a candidate, you do so through the EURES portal messaging system employers never receive direct personal contact details unless the candidate consents.

Step 5 Select a Candidate and Begin the Hiring Process

Once you identify the right candidate, you extend a job offer and proceed to onboarding. This is the point where the immigration process begins and where most employers hit their most complex challenge.

Step 6 Initiate the Work Permit and Visa Application

The EU Talent Pool does not arrange visas or work permits. After a match is confirmed, employers must manage the full immigration process under the applicable national route. This could be the EU Blue Card, the Single Permit, or a country-specific skilled worker visa. Some member states may apply an accelerated immigration process, but this is not compulsory.

EU Talent Pool Gets You the Candidate Jobbatical Handles the Visa

The EU Talent Pool is a powerful sourcing tool. But it was never designed to manage the immigration process. Once a match is made, the real work begins and that is exactly where most employers get stuck.

Visa applications, credential recognition, work permit submissions, appointment booking, compliance tracking, and employee relocation support: none of this is handled by the EU Talent Pool. These responsibilities fall entirely on the employer. Without the right support, this phase can delay onboarding by months, create compliance risks, and result in offer withdrawals.

That is why Jobbatical exists.

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Jobbatical specializes in end-to-end global mobility, providing full support on the relocation of third-country professionals to the European Union, for both employer and their employees. Our expert team takes care of all the time-consuming immigration and settling-in procedures and gives your hires an easy and enjoyable relocation experience. Schedule a free consultation to explore the best solution for your company's needs.

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