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Foreign Healthcare Workers and COVID-19 in Europe: The Paradox of Unemployed Skilled Labour

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  • Senyo Dotsey

    (Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

This report provides an overview of the skilled migrant health workforce and their contribution to health systems in European countries, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Migrant workers at all skill levels have worked in key areas during the pandemic. Skilled migrant health workers, particularly medical practitioners and nurses, make up a significant portion of the frontline health workforce and are essential to keeping health systems in developed countries running. While skilled migrants often face fewer hard barriers (entry control policies: visa policy, work permit schemes, labour migration quotas), this workforce faces soft barriers (e.g., lack of recognition of foreign educational credentials and other restrictive or discriminatory measures) in accessing the host nation’s labour market, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores this phenomenon, focusing on Italy’s health sector and foreign health professionals’ dynamics. The report concludes by proffering some practical policy recommendations to promote the inclusion of migrant health professionals in the health and social care systems in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Senyo Dotsey, 2023. "Foreign Healthcare Workers and COVID-19 in Europe: The Paradox of Unemployed Skilled Labour," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:12:y:2023:i:4:p:211-:d:1115790
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christian Dustmann & Tommaso Frattini, 2014. "The Fiscal Effects of Immigration to the UK," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 124(580), pages 593-643, November.
    2. Facchini, Giovanni & Lodigiani, Elisabetta, 2014. "Attracting Skilled Immigrants: An Overview of Recent Policy Developments in Advanced Countries," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 229, pages 3-21, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Senyo Dotsey & Audrey Lumley-Sapanski & Maurizio Ambrosini, 2023. "COVID-19 and (Im)migrant Carers in Italy: The Production of Carer Precarity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-18, June.

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