Occupational safety and health in Europe - state and trends 2023 
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work – EU-OSHA 113 
Table 32: Non-EU Migrants – over-represented in certain sectors and occupations in 2019 
 
The highest share of intra-EU and extra-EU workers per occupation is among cleaners and helpers 
(37% in total, intra-EU 11%, extra-EU 25%), labourers in mining and construction (24% in total, intra-
EU 7%, extra-EU 17%), stationary plant and mach ine operators (20% in total, intra-EU 6%, extra-EU 
14%), and personal care workers (19% in total, intra-EU 5%, extra-EU 14%).311  
The occupations with a high share of migrant workforce are those with higher physical risks and 
lower expectations to do this job until 60 years old. The common characteristic of these occupations 
is the well-known 3-D assignment: dirty, dangerous and demanding.312 
Beside the occupation-related risks, specific health and safety issues might result from a lower level of 
language dominance; communication and instruction have to cope with different capacities to speak and 
understand. In a more diverse workforce other factors might differ, like awareness and traditions 
regarding aspects such as the importance of hierarchy, ways to communicate, perception of behaviour 
as aggression, harassment and discrimination. In general, a greater variety of the workforce poses wider 
challenges for prevention. 
Posting o f workers has similar implications for the organisation of OSH in enterprises. 313 Posting 
means that companies provide services in other EU Member States  without having to establish 
themselves in the other countries. They send out employees to carry out the  tasks required. The latest 
official data from 2020 estimated 2.3 million posted workers in the EU.314