Cross-border work in EU and EFTA countries

Cross-border work is on the rise within the European Union. There were approximately 1.8 million cross-border workers reported in the EU and EFTA in 2022. This represents an increase of 8% compared to 2021 levels and a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels4. Using Eurostat data on employed persons aged 20-64, this report examines cross-border flows between NUTS-1 regions in the EU and EFTA. The analysis first identifies the main regions of destination for cross-border commuters as well as the key regions of origin for these workers. It then looks in more detail at the flows of workers between bordering and non-bordering regions in EU and EFTA countries. A comparison of these cross-border commuting hotspots with the geographical coverage of existing EURES cross-border partnerships highlights alignment and gaps in services for cross-border workers.