International Migration Policies

In many OECD countries international migration contributes significantly to the growth of total and active population. With population ageing, some countries are questioning the role that immigration might play to alleviate labour shortages. At the same time, they put emphasis on the management of migration flows, on the integration of immigrants into the labour market and on the need to reinforce the links between migration and development. In this context the OECD monitors migration statistics  and policies .

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Growing Free Labour Mobility Areas and Trends in International Migration (Brussels, 14-15 November 2011)

17-Nov-2011

This Conference was jointly organised by the European Commission and the OECD.  John P. Martin, Director for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs at the OECD makes his opening and closing remarks. 

Database on immigrants in OECD and non-OECD countries (DIOC-E): New release

01-Dec-2010

The new global bilateral international migration database DIOC-E (release 2.0) is online. This database provides comprehensive and comparative information on a broad range of demographic and labour market characteristics of immigrants living in 31 OECD and 58 non-OECD countries. A first overview of the characteristics of immigrant and emigrant populations and new estimates of the “brain drain” is given in the following OECD Working Paper "International Migrants in Developed, Emerging and Developing Countries: An Extended Profile".

Naturalisation and the Socio-Economic Integration of Immigrants and their Children (Seminar in Brussels, 14-15 October 2010)

20-Oct-2010

The Seminar was jointly organised by the European Commission and the OECD under the Belgian Presidency of the European Union. John P. Martin, Director of the Directorate for Employment, labour and Social Affairs et OECD, presents his closing remarks.

The economic crisis had its greatest effect on free-movement migration

23-Feb-2010

Georges Lemaître, OECD international migration expert, has been interviewed on recent migration trends in the European Union. He’s presenting some recent flow data for the countries which have been affected the most by the crisis and gives some views on the extent to which government have control over migration flows.

Policy Brief on the International Migration of Health Workforce

12-Mar-2010

This joint OECD/WHO Policy Brief provides new insights on recent migration trends for doctors and nurses and discusses the main causes and consequences for destination and origin countries. Possible policy responses stressing the importance of improved international co-operation to address the global health workforce crisis are presented along with new updated data up to 2008.

Children of Immigrants in the Labour Markets of EU and OECD countries

28-Oct-2009

For the first time, the OECD has collected comprehensive data on the education levels and labour market outcomes of the native-born offspring of immigrants (the so-called “second generation”), compared with the offspring of natives in 16 OECD countries. The data are presented and analysed in a study that was prepared for a joint seminar of the European Commission and the OECD (1 and 2 October 2009, Brussels)  and has been published today on the OECD’s website.

The Database on International Migration - 2010 Edition

09-Sep-2010

The database on International Migration is LIVE. The tables contain data on foreign and foreign-born population, migration flows, naturalisations and labour market outcomes.

Keep doors open to migrant workers to meet long-term labour needs, says OECD

30-Jun-2009

The economic crisis is likely to cause the first major fall in the number of migrants coming to work in OECD countries since the 1980s, according to a new OECD report. This is already happening, for example, in Ireland, Spain and the UK, which were among the countries first hit by the downturn.

High-Level Policy Forum on Migration

During the first-ever OECD High-Level Policy Forum on Migration (Paris, 29-30 June 2009), ministers and senior officials in charge of migration and integration issues discussed the impact of the current economic crisis on international migration, management of labour migration movements and labour market integration of immigrants and their children.

Policy Coherence for Development and Migration - High Level Parliamentary Conference in Brussels

on 12-Feb-2009

Almost 300 participants from Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific region stressed that the financial and economic crisis reinforces the urgent need for comprehensive migration policies with a global approach. There was concurrence that well-managed labour migration can be advantageous for destination countries and bring significant benefits to origin countries thus contributing to poverty reduction. Participants called upon governments to develop coherent migration policies that take into account the development needs of both origin and receiving countries.

Creating Opportunities - Integration, Employment and Social Mobility: European Experiences and Scope for Manoeuvre

27-Jan-2009

By Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General.
The topic of the integration of immigrants is a particularly important one in these challenging times as OECD countries grapple with the economic and financial crisis and the rapid rise of unemployment. Integration is difficult even in good times, so we need to double our efforts to manage it well in bad times.

See more news and events… Top of page

The looming crisis in the health workforce

Health Workforce and Migration Project

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