Open for Business
Migrant Entrepreneurship in OECD Countries
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Migrants contribute to the economic growth of their host countries in many ways, bringing new skills and competencies with them and helping to reduce labour shortages. An aspect that has received only limited attention up to now is migrants’ contribution to entrepreneurial activity and employment creation in their host countries. In OECD countries, entrepreneurship is slightly higher among immigrants than natives and the total number of persons employed in migrant businesses is substantial, although the survival rate of these businesses is often lower than that of their native counterparts. Migrant entrepreneurship has gone beyond traditional ethnic businesses, into a wide range of sectors and innovative areas.
Greater knowledge of migrant entrepreneurship is essential if policy makers are to better support migrant enterprises and their role in economic growth and job creation. In addition, increasing awareness of the positive role that migrants can play as entrepreneurs could contribute to a more balanced public debate on immigration. Taking a cross-country perspective, this publication sheds light on these issues and more, discussing policy options to foster the development and success of migrant businesses. It is a compilation of papers presented at a June 2010 conference organised by the OECD Secretariat, with the financial support of the Swedish and Turkish authorities, and the Dutch-Turkish Businessmen Association (HOTIAD).
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Migrant entrepreneurship in OECD countries and its contribution to employment
The relative importance of immigrant entrepreneurship varies significantly, both across OECD countries and between immigrant groups. Furthermore, migrant entrepreneurs' contribution to employment creation in OECD countries rose steadily during the period 1998-2008. Migrant entrepreneurs have different individual backgrounds than both native entrepreneurs and migrants in wage employment. They are, on average, more educated and work in a wide range of occupations and sectors, including non-ethnic business sectors. Although migrant entrepreneurs are more likely than natives to create a new business in almost all OECD countries, in relation to their population size, the survival rate of their businesses is lower than for natives. Migrant entrepreneurship behaviour is affected by credit constraints and duration of residence in the host country, among other factors. The selective dimension of migration processes may partly explain why migrants are, on average, greater risk-takers than natives and thus have a higher entrepreneurial spirit in many OECD countries.
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