Table of contents

Get this publication

Key statistics

Press material

This publication provides an analysis of recent developments

in migration movements and policies in OECD countries and

two analytical chapters, covering migrant entrepreneurship and

international migration to Israel.

You will also find a special chapter for the 50th OECD Anniversary

on International Migration and the SOPEMI (Free pdf)

Country notes

Declines in permanent migration

here

Permanent migration into OECD countries fell by about 7% in 2009 to 4.3 million people. It is the second consecutive year of decline after a decade of growth. Recent national data suggest migration fell further in 2010.

(cf. part I.A)

More migrant women joining the labour force

hereF2

During the crisis, immigrants have been hard hit by job losses, but the situation is not entirely bleak. More migrant women have joined the labour force, to compensate for job losses among migrant men.

(cf. part I.B)

One in four international students stays on

here

hereF3

One long-term trend which is holding up through the jobs crisis is international student migration. It has been increasing steadily over the past decade and there are now more than 2.3 million international students in OECD countries. About one in four will stay in the countries in which they studied, providing an increasingly important source of skilled workers.

(cf. part I.A)

Changes in permanent immigration to Israel*

here

hereF4

Permanent migration to Israel - almost all "ethnic" by Jews and their families - was particularly high in the early 1990s.

In the past decade, however, temporary labour migration by workers from other countries has become more important. 

(cf. part III) 

* See note on Israel

When immigrants create jobs

here

here

Migrants contribute to the economic growth of host countries in many ways, bringing new skills, helping to reduce labour shortages, and creating new businesses.

On average across OECD countries, the percentage of migrant entrepreneurs differs only slightly from that of natives, but there are significant variations between countries.

(cf. part II)

* See note on Israel