Luxembourg is attracting an increasing number of workers from countries outside the European Union (EU). It is this group – referred to in official documents as third-country nationals – that Adem focuses on in its new “Zoom Emploi” study. The study shows that these workers are meeting a growing demand for skills, but that they are also increasingly represented among jobseekers.
Between 2018 and 2025, the working-age population grew by 12.5% in Luxembourg, one of the highest rates in the EU. Over this period, the proportion of third-country nationals rose from 9.4% to 13.1%, representing an increase of nearly 22,000 people. Their presence in the labour market has also grown significantly: they now account for 12.2% of resident employees, compared with around 7% seven years earlier. Their growth accounted for 45% of the total increase in the workforce, and their numbers rose by 31,605 people, nearly 60% of whom are aged between 30 and 44.
The study also highlights a shift in their profile. Whilst they remain very much present in the accommodation and catering sector, they are now playing an increasingly significant role in high value-added sectors. Specialised, scientific and technical activities, information and communication, and finance are among the sectors where their presence is growing most rapidly. The Adem believes that the introduction, in 2023, of the list of “severely short-staffed” occupations has probably made it easier to recruit them in these sectors facing labour shortages.
41.8% of higher education graduates
However, this rise in numbers has not led to easier integration into the labour market. By the end of 2025, third-country nationals accounted for 23.5% of jobseekers registered with Adem. In other words, nearly one in four jobseekers in Luxembourg today comes from a country outside the EU. In total, 6,674 jobseekers fell into this category, representing a 52% increase since 2018. The study points out, however, that this group is far from homogeneous. It includes people who have come to work, study or join their families, as well as beneficiaries of international or temporary protection. Once the latter are excluded, the proportion of third-country nationals among jobseekers falls to 17.9%.
Another striking finding is that the level of qualifications is often high. Among jobseekers who are third-country nationals, 41.8% hold a higher education qualification, compared with 29.4% of all those registered with Adem. However, for 80.9% of them, this qualification was obtained outside the EU, which complicates its recognition and the validation of their skills. In certain regulated professions, such as healthcare, only around 20% of jobseekers are looking for work directly related to their specialism. In IT, however, this proportion is closer to 80%.
The study identifies several recurring barriers to labour market integration: language proficiency, differences in regulatory frameworks, procedures for the recognition of qualifications, and mobility. According to data from Adem, only 20 to 37% of third-country nationals are considered to have excellent mobility – meaning they hold a driving licence and own a car – compared with more than half of Luxembourg nationals and EU nationals.
In light of these findings, Adem is highlighting its support schemes, training programmes and measures to promote employment. As at 31 December 2025, 16.2% of jobseekers who were third-country nationals were benefiting from such a measure, a figure comparable to that for Luxembourg nationals. However, the agency also warns that, without better identification and recognition of the skills already present in the country, Luxembourg risks a significant waste of talent, even as labour shortages persist in many sectors.
