The migrant worker factor in labour market policy reform

Research on labour market policy reform in Western Europe has given insufficient attention to the ‘migrant worker factor’. Concerns about reduced availability of migrant workers, as well as more traditional concerns regarding labour market competition and socio-cultural integration, can catalyze a shift in labour market policy. I present recent cases of reform in the vocational education and training arena in Ireland and the UK, which were partly stimulated by these concerns. It appears that the ‘migrant worker factor’ contributes to labour market policy reforms which increase the role of the state in the economy.