In Conversation with Pilvi Torsti: Migration, skills, and the global competition for talent

 Arthur Erken (AE): Thank you, Pilvi. It’s a pleasure to be here and to deepen our collaboration with the ETF. As the regional director for Europe and Central Asia, the region covers everything from, let's say, Ireland to Kazakhstan and everything in between. So that's 57 countries and territories and we have 46 country offices. So some of them cover more than one country. It's a vast region. It's, of course, also a very interesting region. Because of the topic of migration, which is of course very much in the news, as you know very well

AE:  That’s a great question. The first thing to understand is that irregular migration into Europe accounts for less than 10% of all migration. Around 90% of people come through regular, legal pathways — mainly for three reasons: employment, international studies, and family reunification. Yet, irregular migration dominates the debate, even though it involves only about 200,000 people a year, compared to roughly two million who arrive legally.

 PT: Coming to the IOM, you've put forward the five key recommendations: building sound legal frameworks, fostering dialogue, protecting migrant rights, investing in integration, and enhancing cooperation against trafficking and smuggling. Just very briefly, what would be probably the most urgent that you would pick from these as we speak?

 AE: That's hard to say. I think they're all interconnected. So it's not that when you do one thing, then you solve a problem. I think that given the current narrative around migration, obviously the issue of irregular migration and how you deal with it is certainly something that needs to be addressed, and people need to have the feeling that countries are in control of that process. I do think that's important to also then be able to discuss regular pathways. If people still feel that that part, even though it's only less than 10%, but if that part is not well managed, it's very hard to sell a regular pathway and say we need people in certain sectors. So I do believe the issue of smuggling and the issue of the fact that people try to come in in an irregular way is a problem that needs to be tackled to allow a debate and actual work on regular pathways.

The issue of the involvement of communities is very important. And I think the same thing — or linked to that — is the issue of integration. It's not good enough to say we need people to work in whatever — the healthcare sector or in the agriculture sector. These are real people that will come to our communities. So, integration is an important aspect of the success of migration. And that cannot be underestimated by governments, or by the private sector. I do think the private sector has a role in ensuring that people integrate into the communities that they live in. hey live, they commute, they are part of a society, and I think that aspect is equally important and doesn't get the attention it deserves.

PT: You mentioned the private sector. At the Naples Migration Forum, which we co-organised with IOM and ISPI as part of the Mediterranean Dialogues, the focus was on its role in migration. How can organisations like ours turn these discussions into concrete actions so the private sector is fully engaged?

AE: The international community must bring together three key actors: the private sector, governments, and local communities. Businesses need workers, but they also have a social role — ensuring fair recruitment, decent income, and integration. Governments must provide clear legal frameworks to support mobility and competitiveness. We recently partnered with a company in Serbia employing workers from the Philippines and Kenya, focusing on integration and rights protection. This is crucial because global competition for skills is intensifying as populations decline. Europe must remain welcoming and competitive, attracting talent while maintaining control and fairness. In the future, young people will choose where to go — Europe, Asia, or elsewhere — so we need strategies that make Europe an attractive destination.

PT: You've said that we live in an era of immense demographic opportunity. At the same time in Europe and in also many of the countries where we work, we do face these challenges like in the Western Balkans. How do we turn this youthful opportunity and then the demographic reality into productive, inclusive workforce?  

AE: That's a very good question. I think, so in my previous life, this was, of course, a big issue around high-fertility countries that don't generate enough jobs. And so young people, obviously, try to leave, which is not something that any country would like to see, of courses.  Everyone wants young people to stay, so investing in them and their education is critical. Everyone wants young people to stay, so investing in them and their education is critical. This benefits both those who remain and those who leave. European countries must keep investing in less well-off countries, ensuring children stay in school and complete education. Cutting ODA risks harming health, education, and development, leading to fewer skilled migrants and greater inequality — which drives poverty, environmental degradation, and forced migration, including climate-related. Most people want to stay where they were born, so improving conditions there is essential. Some will still leave for better opportunities, but at least they’ll have the right foundation.

PT: Artur, we have a tradition here in conversation with Pilvi Torsi that the previous guest has left a question that even I don't know what it is. And I am going to now ask it from you. And the previous guests this time was the EU Special Representative to Central Asia, Mr. Stipreis. And let's see what he has asked from the next guest. What may be the future professions and occupations that we have no idea about right now?  

 AE: Gosh, if I had a crystal ball, I would have been... So here's the thing, people tend to think, probably as my answer, tend to think that it's all about high tech, AI, but first I will always say there are certain skills that we will always need now, even in our debate on migration. Often you hear people say, oh, there's good migration, there is bad migration. Good migration is the one that have ICT background and those we want. But the low skilled ones, no, that's not, but in fact, we need the low skill ones. We need the plumbers, we needed electricians, we need those that can still do that work. So I think there's certain jobs that will just stay and that's probably important. But the new jobs, I think obviously, or not obviously, but I do think AI will certainly drive certain jobs out of the market and long and needed. The worry there is, by the way, that I think a lot of entry-level jobs that we currently still have, those are the jobs that probably might be disappearing because of AI, but it will also create probably new skills and new jobs that can turn AI into a productive asset.  

PT: And my last question to you, if you will look five years ahead, what do you think the IOM and ETF cooperation could look like?  

AE: I hope we have a strong partnership because I think we're operating in areas where we do have connections. I think it's a growing market. I've been saying this for a long time, just looking at the development of Europe and where it's going, demographically, economically, socially. So, I would... I would love to come back in five years' time, well, if not earlier, and we look back at this moment and saying, wow, remember that meeting that we had, that day we had in 2025, and look where we are now. I do hope, by the way, in five standards, some of the countries you currently work in, that you call your neighbourhood, might have become part of the EU, so you might have also diversified by that time the country that you collaborate with, because the neighbourhood will then move a little bit, east, south, whatever. And I hope we still partner because we're there too, and we can look back and toast on a good five years of collaboration.