This publication constitutes the 47th report of the OECD’s Continuous Reporting System on Migration. The report is divided into six chapters plus a statistical annex. Chapter 1 provides a broad overview of recent trends in international migration flows. It also analyses recent changes on the labour market inclusion of immigrants in OECD countries. Chapter 2 monitors recent changes in migration policies, while Chapter 3 looks at the recent changes in policies that support the integration of immigrants and their children.

On top of what was already the largest inflow of new permanent immigrants on record, Russia’s War of Aggression against Ukraine has led to the largest refugee surge to the OECD area since the end of World War II. One of the most striking features of this mass displacement is the disproportionate share of women who represent around 70% of all adult refugees. This stands in stark contrast to inflows of asylum seekers recorded in past crises, which predominantly consisted of men. The gendered nature of displacement from Ukraine has given new impetus for taking a gender lens when reviewing migration and integration policies, largely absent in most discussions on these topics.

Migration to OECD countries is at unprecedented levels. With more than 6 million new permanent immigrants (not including Ukrainian refugees), permanent-type migration to OECD countries reached a record level in 2022. This was driven by increases in humanitarian and managed labour migration, along with accompanying family members. More than one in three OECD countries registered their highest levels in at least 15 years, with several countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, reporting the highest figures on record. Temporary labour migration, especially of the seasonal kind, also registered a strong increase. The number of admissions of international students neared 2 million for the first time.

This chapter provides an overview of recent developments in international migration movements and labour market inclusion of immigrants in OECD countries. The first section analyses the evolution of international migration flows over the last decade, up to 2022. It covers both permanent-type and temporary migration, as well as the category of migration. The chapter then examines international student mobility and recent trends in asylum requests and international protection grants in OECD countries. It then looks at the demographics of migration flows (gender and origin), the evolution of the share of the foreign-born in the population and the acquisition of nationality in OECD countries. The second section of the chapter examines trends in the labour market outcomes of immigrants over the past two decades. Detailed analysis by sociodemographic characteristics and region of origin is provided.

This chapter provides an overview of the changes in the immigration policies of OECD countries during the period 2022‑23, with a particular focus on major trends and policy changes related to labour migration and international pathways and protection.

This chapter first provides an overview of the main changes in integration policy in OECD countries during the period 2022‑23, against the context of new developments following the COVID‑19 pandemic and the Ukrainian refugee crisis, triggered by Russia’s full scale war, with a specific focus on gendered aspects of integration policy, the recognition of foreign qualifications, and the role of subnational governments in migrant integration.

This chapter explores fertility patterns among migrant populations in OECD countries and the limits of the measures commonly used to describe them. It analyses the factors shaping fertility gaps between native‑ and foreign-born women, as well as those driving convergence over time. The chapter also assesses the indirect and direct contribution of migrants to the total number of births in OECD countries and their drivers – namely, the share of migrants in the total population, their age and sex composition, as well as the migration channel through which they arrive. Finally, it points to some of the implications of these trends for population dynamics and the labour market integration among migrants in OECD countries.

This chapter explores the relationship between family formation and labour market outcomes among migrant women. After analysing the short- and longer-term effects on employment outcomes, it presents the factors shaping these results: from individual characteristics to institutional arrangements (parental leave, formal childcare and part-time arrangements). Finally, the chapter reviews some of the policies to support the employment of migrant mothers, focusing on the best practices.

OECD countries seldom have tools specifically designed to measure the inflows and outflows of the foreign population, and national estimates are generally based either on population registers or residence permit data. This note describes more systematically what is measured by each of the sources used.

Mona AHMED, Junior Administrator