In economic jargon, it aids factor re-allocation by moving labour to where it is needed, which in turn contributes to overall growth in a monetary union and acts as an effective adjustment mechanism. So, how does Europe fare in terms of labour mobility? The free movement of workers is a fundamental right enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
But how much use do citizens make of this right in practice? Since the enlargement of the European Union (EU) in 2004, labour market mobility has certainly risen, albeit from very low levels.