EU Granted Over 191,000 Seasonal Work Permits, Moroccans Were the Primary Beneficiaries
Key Takeaways
1. Authorizations for seasonal work in the EU reached a record high in 2023.
2. Italy issued over 73,000 permits, accounting for 41% of the EU's total.
3. Moroccans, along with Bangladeshis and Indians, were the top recipients.
In 2023, a total of 191,840 foreign nationals were granted permits for seasonal work in the EU, marking a 22.6% increase compared to 2022 and setting a new record.
According to Eurostat data, the number of seasonal workers in the EU has grown by 70.3% over the past five years. Even during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, when travel was restricted and job opportunities were limited, the number of permits continued to rise.
Italy Leads in Seasonal Work Permits
Italy issued 73,536 permits in 2023, representing 41.5% of all authorizations granted by the EU. France followed with 37,354 permits (19.5%), and Croatia was third with 17,869 (9.3%).
Spain and Finland issued 12,554 and 7,842 permits, accounting for 6.5% and 4.1% of the total. These five countries issued 80.8% of all EU seasonal work permits in 2023.
In contrast, countries like Belgium and Slovakia granted the fewest authorizations, with only 99 and 42 permits, respectively, while Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta, and the Netherlands issued none.
Moroccans Received 30% of All Permits in 2023
Moroccans were the largest group of beneficiaries, receiving 58,547 seasonal work permits (30.5% of the total). They were followed by Bangladeshis with 29,249 permits (15.2%) and Indians with 22,498 (11.7%). Other notable recipients included Ukrainians (8,693, 4.5%) and Serbians (6,841, 3.6%).
Countries like Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal offer the most seasonal work opportunities, while Luxembourg and Austria have fewer positions available except during the winter season when more vacancies open.