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EU Member States Increase Quotas for Foreign Non-Office Workers

With rising demand in construction, logistics, and care services, EU Member States are opening more legal pathways for non-office foreign workers. euGEAT™ is now a key screening tool helping employers select reliable, job-ready candidates—fairly and transparently.

Several European Union Member States have officially announced expanded labor quotas for foreign non-office workers in 2025–2026, citing increased demand in key sectors such as construction, logistics, agriculture, sanitation, hospitality, and elder care.

The move reflects a growing recognition of skilled and semi-skilled foreign labor as essential to the stability of Europe’s physical and service-based industries, particularly amid ongoing demographic shifts, skills shortages, and seasonal labor gaps.

 

EU Countries Leading the Expansion

As of Q2 2025, the following Member States have confirmed increased worker intake through national or bilateral recruitment channels:

Country 2025 Quota Growth Key Sectors
Germany +30,000 workers Construction, logistics, cleaning
Poland +18,000 workers Manufacturing, agriculture
Portugal +9,500 workers Hospitality, care services
Romania +12,000 workers Infrastructure, seasonal farming
Hungary +6,000 workers Food processing, warehousing
Croatia +4,500 workers Tourism, security

Some of these workers are recruited under seasonal worker schemes, while others are hired for long-term roles through third-country labor mobility programs.

 

Why Are Quotas Increasing?

The key drivers behind this expansion include:

  1. Labor shortages in physically demanding sectors

  2. Aging domestic workforce and lower local application rates

  3. Post-pandemic recovery in tourism and hospitality

  4. Infrastructure acceleration projects funded by the EU

  5. Strategic partnerships with countries outside the EU to enable legal labor migration

 

Opportunities for Global Job Seekers

The quota increase creates expanded legal pathways for workers from:

  • South and Southeast Asia (Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Nepal)

  • North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt)

  • Eastern Europe and Balkans (Serbia, Bosnia, Georgia)

  • Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan)

Agencies and employers from these regions are now actively seeking candidates who can prove their suitability for non-office roles — often requiring soft skills, stamina, and behavioral discipline more than academic degrees.

 

Where euGEAT™ Comes In

Many EU-based employers and recruitment agencies now use the General Employment Aptitude Test (euGEAT™) to screen applicants before selection. The euGEAT™ evaluates:

  • Job discipline and punctuality

  • Safety awareness

  • Ability to follow instructions

  • Teamwork and reliability

  • Mental and physical preparedness

We want the right people for the right jobs — those who can show both willingness and workplace behavior. The euGEAT™ helps us identify these candidates early,” said a logistics employer in Frankfurt, Germany.”

 

 

Regulated & Ethical Migration Pathways

The quota expansions are paired with stricter oversight of:

  • Recruitment agency licensing

  • Pre-departure orientation and training

  • Worker housing, contracts, and safety provisions

euGEAT™ results are increasingly accepted as supporting documentation for visa or permit applications under legal recruitment frameworks.

 

What’s Next?

The European Commission is expected to publish new recommendations by Q4 2025 on:

  • Improving transparency in cross-border hiring

  • Using behavioral assessments in selection processes

  • Supporting ethical labor mobility and fair migration

Resources

  • [View Country-by-Country Quota Details →]

  • [Apply for euGEAT™ as Part of Your EU Job Preparation →]

  • [Become a Licensed Recruitment Partner →]

  • [Contact the euGEAT™ Accreditation Office →]

 

Published: June 5, 2025