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CIAO DATE: 4/5/2007
From Immigration to Integration: Local Approaches
November 2006
Abstract
Flows of migrant workers are increasing. Almost three million long-term migrants enter OECD countries legally every year, and the numbers will continue to rise as host countries grapple with falling birth rates and ageing populations. Immigration offers clear benefits to advanced countries, with some sectors already lacking the labour and skills they need to meet demand. For migrants, attractions include a higher standard of living and better prospects for their children.
For migrants to contribute fully, they need to be effectively integrated into the labour market. Paradoxically, at the same time that migration is increasing in importance, there is worrying evidence that integration results are less favourable than in the past. Immigrants are generally more exposed to long-term unemployment and social exclusion, as well as poorer working conditions and temporary employment. What is more, in many countries the second or third generation offspring of immigrants still experience barriers to the labour market. This has come as a surprise as many believed that children born in the host country would benefit from sharing the same education as native children, and growing up speaking the same language.
The integration of immigrants has a strong local dimension. While immigration applications are likely to be dealt with at the national level, migrants ultimately settle in local communities, and require support from local stakeholders when integration proves difficult. Despite a lack of resources, there has been much local innovation in this field. However national and regional policy makers now need to build on this innovation to provide a more mainstreamed approach, leading to more sustainable employment outcomes in the future. This Policy Brief highlights local innovations in five OECD countries in particular – Canada, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
