Goods, services and capital flow relatively freely throughout the European Union, but can we say the same about labour? We all agree that increased mobility across the region is an essential part of strengthening our network and increasing our competitiveness on the global stage, yet a complex array of challenges and issues—both economic and social—need to be overcome to make this vision a reality. As part of PwC's contribution to the European Year of Workers’ Mobility 2006, we undertook research to update the findings of our study Managing mobility matters which we undertook in 2001.
This study provides an up-to-date picture of the situation regarding mobility, based on the most rigorous and robust research involving a survey of over 400 companies across the EU. PwC intends to use this report to continue the debate and to alert businesses, national governments and the European Commission to the issues that it raises for all of us.
The study focuses on four principal topics:
- Making sense of the mobility mosaic: Has mobility increased since 2001?
- Weighing mobility costs and benefits: What are the main drivers of mobility in 2006?
- Understanding real and perceived barriers to mobility: Have the barriers changed since 2001?
- The mobility expectation gap: What are the prospects for mobility over the next five years?
