Important Facts of the News
- New permanent migration to OECD countries declined by 4% in 2024.
- Total new permanent migrants in 2024 were 6.2 million, about 15% higher than 2019 levels.
- Permanent migration dropped by 56% in New Zealand and 41% in the United Kingdom between 2023 and 2024.
- More than 10% declines were recorded in countries including Estonia, Finland, Germany and Italy.
- Permanent migration increased by 20% in the United States in 2024.
- Family reunification remained the primary reason for permanent migration, while labour migration reduced.
- Nearly 3 million people acquired citizenship in OECD countries in 2024.
- Germany granted citizenship to 290,000 people and the United Kingdom to 270,000.
- OECD countries registered 3.1 million new asylum applications in 2024, up 13% from 2023.
- Employment rate of adult immigrants averaged 70.9%, compared to 72.1% among native-born populations.
- Immigrant workers earned on average 34% less in their first year, narrowing to a 21% gap after five years.
- In 2020-2021, OECD countries employed 830,000 foreign-born doctors and 1.75 million foreign-born nurses.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
New analysis from the latest International Migration Outlook highlights that in 2024, overall permanent migration to OECD countries recorded a slight decline after three consecutive years of growth. However, the total number of new arrivals remained comparatively high when measured against pre-pandemic figures.
Overall Movement Moderates after Previous Expansion
The total number of individuals settling permanently across OECD member states reached 6.2 million in 2024. This reflects a 4% reduction from the previous year but still stands around 15% higher than levels recorded in 2019. The report shows a varied pattern across countries, with notable decreases in some regions alongside significant increases in others.
Sharp Declines in Several Member Countries
The most substantial year-on-year drop in new permanent arrivals occurred in New Zealand, where figures fell by 56%. The United Kingdom followed with a 41% decline. A reduction exceeding 10% was observed in several European and non-European economies including Germany, Finland, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania and others.
Increase in the United States and Several Other Countries
At the same time, the United States experienced a notable rise of around 20%, largely due to humanitarian admissions. Other countries registering more moderate increases included Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czechia, Ireland and Japan, each recording growth above 5%.
Reasons for Migration and Changing Citizenship Patterns
Family reunification remained the most common reason for permanent settlement across the OECD. Labour-related migration, in comparison, showed a decline. Alongside these shifts, citizenship acquisitions reached historically high levels. Approximately 3 million people were granted citizenship among OECD members. Germany and the United Kingdom saw record numbers, granting citizenship to 290,000 and 270,000 individuals respectively.
Asylum Applications and Labour Market Participation
New asylum applications reached 3.1 million in 2024, marking the highest total recorded. Although some countries saw declines, the overall level remained elevated. Many applicants originated from Venezuela, Colombia and Syria.
Employment patterns reveal that immigrant participation in labour markets stands close to that of native-born populations. The employment rate among adult immigrants reached 70.9%, compared to 72.1% among native-born individuals. Immigrant women recorded rising employment in most OECD countries, reaching 63.5%.
Workforce Integration and Earnings
The report provides further insight into earnings progression. In the first year after entering the labour market, immigrant workers earned around 34% less on average than native-born workers of similar age and gender. This gap narrowed over time to roughly 21% after five years, with most improvement occurring within the same workplaces rather than through job changes.
Role of Migrants in the Health Sector
The study also highlights the important role of foreign-born medical professionals in OECD healthcare systems. During 2020-2021, 830,000 foreign-born doctors and 1.75 million foreign-born nurses were serving across the countries with available data, representing 22% and 17% of their respective professional workforces. The report notes that procedures for recognizing foreign professional qualifications continue to require further simplification.