Closed professions

Discrimination against non-members of professional bodies
Active professional prejudice towards non-professionals

Incidence

Closed professions remain a significant barrier to labor market access in many countries, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Regulatory restrictions, licensing requirements, and professional monopolies often limit entry to certain occupations, disproportionately impacting immigrants, minorities, and those with non-traditional qualifications. This phenomenon contributes to underemployment, skills shortages, and economic inefficiency on a global scale.
In 2023, the European Commission highlighted persistent barriers in several EU member states, where foreign-trained doctors and engineers faced lengthy and opaque recognition processes, effectively excluding them from practicing their professions. Such restrictions have exacerbated workforce shortages, particularly in healthcare and technical sectors.