According to statistics from the Central Office of the Labour, Social Affairs and Family (the UPSVAR), in June 2023 the total number of employed foreigners in Slovakia reached its highest level ever reported, standing at 97 263. This represents a remarkable growth of 68% since June 2018, which saw 57 998 foreigners employed.

Given the recent arrival of large numbers of people fleeing the war in Ukraine, Ukrainians are the most represented nationality within this group. Their number is 36 929 as of June, followed by Serbians with 9 967. Among EU nationals, Romanians are highest in number, with 7 257. In spite of the existence of certain legal barriers to employment for third-country nationals in the country, further fast growth is expected.

The labour market in Slovakia is undergoing transformation and developing fast, which has resulted in market shortages: nationwide there are currently almost 100 000 available jobs that companies are finding hard to fill, particularly in the automotive and agriculture industries. Depending on the region, the UPSVAR also reports shortages in care workers, doctors, medical specialists, nurses, drivers, warehouse operators, plumbers, and many other professions. Because of these shortages, the issue of the employment of foreign nationals in Slovakia is increasingly receiving attention in public discourse and at the political level.

While employers and civil society call for the simplification of migration legislation to facilitate migrant access to the labour market, there remains a conservative attitude among policy makers: migration and integration policies are relatively strict and, for many foreign nationals, using or securing recognition of qualifications obtained abroad remains difficult. Among Ukrainian professionals granted temporary protection in Slovakia due to the ongoing war, for example, many doctors, nurses, and teachers are employed in low-skilled positions.

The main argument for the continued conservative approach to migration legislation is the need to regulate and manage migration flows effectively, although the dimensions of human rights, integration, and equal opportunities must still be considered. Migrants' stability of stay, potential in the future, use of qualifications gained abroad, and access to different dimensions of society must all be promoted in order that the country might benefit from migration. The generally decreasing economically active population and these pressures from the labour market will likely force policymakers to reconsider the relevant legislation soon.