Migration flows to OECD countries reached unprecedented heights in 2023, with 6.5 million new permanent immigrants recorded—up by 400,000 from 2022. This trend affected one-third of the 38 OECD countries, including the UK, Canada, France, and Japan, which reported record-high immigration levels.
Notably, the employment rate of migrants hit an all-time high of 71.8%, while their unemployment rate dropped to 7.3%. Countries like Canada, the US, the UK, and the EU reported their highest-ever migrant employment rates.
This boom in migrant workforce participation underscores its critical role in addressing labor shortages and sustaining economic growth amidst demographic challenges.
The sharpest rise occurred in humanitarian migration, which surged by 20%, followed by family migration with a 16% increase. Labor migration, however, remained stable, highlighting the importance of enhancing professional migration pathways.
Immigrants are also reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape. In 2022, 17% of self-employed individuals in OECD countries were immigrants—a substantial jump from 11% in 2006. These figures underline their expanding influence in fostering innovation and job creation.
Stefano Scarpetta, OECD’s Director of Employment, emphasized that improving access to professional migration routes not only tackles labor shortages but also ensures better migration flow management while reducing irregular migration.
#OECD
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