Surprising report on migration: reached an unprecedented level

The International Migration Outlook 2023 report of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has been published.

According to the report, permanent migration to OECD countries increased by 26 percent last year compared to 2021, while top figures indicate this increase will continue in 2023.

THE RECORD LEVEL HAS BEEN SEEN

Last year, permanent migration to OECD countries reached a record level, with more than 6 million new permanent immigrants. These record levels were driven by humanitarian and labor migration, as well as an increase in the number of migrants accompanying members of their families.

UKRAINIAN REFUGEES WERE EXCLUDED

While 40 percent of all new permanent migration occurred from family migration, 21 percent of this was work-related migration. Canada and Ukraine reported the highest immigration numbers ever recorded. In these figures, Ukrainian refugees were excluded.

The number of Ukrainian refugees in OECD countries reached 4.7 million in June 2023. The Ukrainian refugee crisis has been the largest “displacement” seen in Europe since World War II.

While Germany, Poland and the United States stood out as the countries with the highest number of Ukrainian refugees, Estonia, Czechia and Lithuania were recorded as the countries with the highest number of Ukrainian refugees by population.

IMMIGRANT EMPLOYMENT IS ALSO AT A RECORD LEVEL

Migrant employment in OECD countries improved between 2021 and 2022, except in Poland, reaching the highest level on record.

Labor constraints in many OECD countries have been one of the main factors in the increase in employment of new migrant workers and established migrants.

In OECD countries, the gap between immigrant and native employment has narrowed.

While New Zealand was the country with the highest employment of immigrants at 82.7 percent, this rate was 77.2 percent in Australia, 75.8 percent in the United Kingdom and 72.6 percent in USA. In these countries, the employment rate of immigrants has exceeded the national employment rate.

In the EU, migrant employment was estimated at 66.8 percent.

The number of immigrants obtaining citizenship in OECD countries also increased to 2.8 million in 2022. (BRITISH AUTOMOBILE CLUB)