The year 2023 marked a new peak for migration to OECD countries, with a record 6.5 million people moving permanently. According to the International Migration Outlook 2024 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a surge in family migration and humanitarian flows drove much of the increase. Labor migration also remained robust. Temporary migration and asylum applications also hit record highs, reflecting broader global migration trends.
In 2023, OECD countries experienced a sharp rise in permanent migration, with the number of arrivals reaching an all-time high. Family migration saw the largest increase at 18%, while humanitarian migration also grew by 20%. Notably, permanent labor migration remained steady at just under 1.2 million workers, mirroring levels seen in 2022.
About one-third of OECD nations saw record immigration levels in 2023. These include countries like Canada, France, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Yet, another third of countries experienced declines in immigration, including Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, and New Zealand.
LABOR MIGRATION AND ECONOMIC DRIVERS
A major factor in the growth of migration is the strong demand for labor across OECD countries. According to OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, buoyant labor demand, coupled with demographic changes, has been a key driver of migration. Many OECD countries are facing widespread labor shortages, and the influx of migrant workers has helped sustain economic growth.
The continued high demand for labor is reflected in the rise of temporary labor migration. In 2023, over 2.4 million work permits and authorizations were issued across OECD countries. This marked a 16% increase from the previous year. It also represented a 28% increase from pre-pandemic levels.
ASYLUM SEEKERS AND INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
Asylum applications to OECD countries also surged in 2023, setting a new record with 2.7 million new asylum seekers, a 30% increase compared to the previous year. The United States received over 1 million asylum applications. This number surpassed the total asylum applications in European OECD countries added together. The primary origin countries for asylum seekers in 2023 were Venezuela, Colombia, Syria, and Afghanistan.
OECD countries granted international protection to 676,000 refugees in 2023. This is a 15% increase from the previous year. This included a significant rise in refugee resettlements, with 160,000 refugees resettled in 2023, the highest number since 2016.
THE RISE OF IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The International Migration Outlook 2024 also highlighted a growing trend of immigrant entrepreneurship in OECD countries. In 2022, migrants made up 17% of the self-employed population, up from 11% in 2006. This shift has had a notable economic impact, with migrant entrepreneurs contributing significantly to job creation. On average, for every 10 additional migrants in the working-age population, an estimated 2 additional jobs are created through entrepreneurship.
Between 2011 and 2021, migrant entrepreneurship created nearly 4 million jobs across 25 OECD countries. This demonstrates the critical role that migrants play in strengthening economies.
