The Future of Labour without Borders: A Greater Region Seeks a Formula for Adaptation
Valery Tenevoy, Unsplash
On 19 and 20 June 2025, Luxembourg and the symbolic Schengen village became the centre of dialogue on the future of the cross-border labour market in Europe. The annual conference of the employment services of the Greater Region (comprising Luxembourg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, the Grand Est region, Eastern Belgium and Wallonia) discussed not only current challenges, but also the growing need to coordinate efforts in the face of skills shortages and technological change.
ADEM Director Isabelle Schlesser, who opened the conference, identified a key challenge: supply and demand in the labour market are increasingly diverging. Companies are facing a shortage of suitable staff, even though there are unemployed people. This imbalance is particularly acute in cross-border regions, where mobility is a resource but also a challenge.
A highlight of the conference was a speech by Andrea Nahles, head of the German Federal Labour Agency. She noted that, on the one hand, there is an acute shortage of skilled workers and, on the other hand, the share of unemployed people with low levels of education and multiple barriers to employment is growing.
"Two thirds of the unemployed in Germany have low qualifications. We not only support them, but also expect them to take the initiative. We need to find a balance between support and demanding," Nahles emphasised.
This approach echoes contemporary European principles of labour policy, where the emphasis is increasingly not just on assistance, but on participation in one's own employment.
The second part of the conference was dedicated to the impact of artificial intelligence and technological changes on labour. Experts from ADEM presented an analysis showing how the requirements for employees are already changing today: from the relevance of soft skills to the disappearance of routine functions. In the context of rapid changes, skills are becoming more and more specialised and short-lived.
Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of continuous learning. Participants stressed the need for cross-border skills development programmes so that the workforce can adapt freely across the Greater Region. This is particularly relevant in a context where daily migration between Luxembourg and neighbouring countries is becoming the norm.
The cultural part of the event included a tour of the Schengen Village and a visit to a floating museum. These symbolic places reminded participants that cross-borderisation is not only a logistical but also a political idea at the heart of modern Europe. Joining forces in the field of employment is a direct continuation of this project.
In her closing remarks, Isabelle Schlesser noted that "by crossing borders, we create opportunities". The conference showed that Europe must act as a single organism to successfully adapt to the new economic environment. This is the only way to ensure the sustainability of employment and prepare the labour force for the challenges of the 21st century.
