This publication constitutes the thirty-ninth report of the OECD’s Continuous Reporting System on Migration. The report is divided into four chapters plus a statistical annex.

OECD countries are facing an unprecedented refugee crisis. In 2014, more than 800 000 asylum applications were recorded, an historical high, but the figure for 2015 is expected to be even higher. Even if humanitarian migration is an issue of increasing concern in several parts of the world, notably in Asia, most asylum applications were made in Europe (more than 600 000 in 2014). This is clearly an emergency situation that requires a co-ordinated response at both European and global levels.

Immigration flows are on the rise in most OECD countries. Preliminary data for 2014 suggest that permanent migration flows increased sharply for the first time since 2007 and are back to their pre-crisis level, with 4.3 million permanent entries to the OECD. Family reunification migration accounted for 35% of all permanent migration to OECD countries in 2013 and free movement for 30%.

This chapter provides an overview of recent developments in international migration movements in OECD countries. It begins with a description of the uptick in migration flows in 2014, based on preliminary and partial data. This is followed by a more detailed analysis of the trends in permanent migration from the start of the financial crisis through 2013, by country and by main category of migration – migration for work, family or humanitarian purposes, and migration within free movement areas. Temporary migration is then covered, with brief highlights on seasonal workers and intra-company transferees, and a focus on posting of workers within the European Economic Area (EEA). Close attention is then devoted to the spike in the number of asylum seekers, before turning to the international mobility of students. The chapter continues with a brief description of the composition of migration flows by gender and by country of origin, then turns to the evolution of the foreign-born population, the changing trends in net migration and the acquisition of nationality across OECD countries. A detailed policy section follows, describing the major recent developments in policies that regulate the entry and stay of foreign nationals in OECD countries. Large-scale revisions in migration frameworks are reviewed. Policy changes for different categories of migrants are examined (skilled and less skilled workers; investors and entrepreneurs; international students; family migrants and humanitarian migrants). The developments in management systems for permits and for asylum procedures are discussed, followed by enforcement measures and those to encourage return.

The first part of this chapter provides detailed evidence on the labour market outcomes of migrants in OECD countries relative to those of their native-born peers. It focuses on the labour market outcomes in two distinct periods: the one that followed the global economic crisis (2007-11) and the more recent period (2011-14) in which some OECD countries have shown signs of recovery. It also contains a detailed discussion of the migrant groups that face considerable challenges in the labour market in many OECD countries and the sectors which have shown substantial variations in recent years for migrant and native workers. The second part of the chapter describes the latest developments in integration policies in the OECD showing that integration policies are being developed and scaled up across the OECD.

This chapter examines how the international migration of health workers to OECD countries has evolved since 2000. It analyses flows against the background of shifts in migration and health policies and economic and institutional change.At a time when skilled migration is on the increase, immigrant doctors and nurses account for mounting shares of the healthcare professionals who practice in the OECD area. The figures in 2010/11 were 23% for doctors and 14% for nurses although, less are foreign-trained than foreign-born, which suggests that host countries provide some of their training.This chapter also considers how the 2007/08 crisis and EU enlargement affect the immigration of doctors and nurses, particularly to Europe, and looks at the part played by immigration policies and the management of labour supply and demand in the healthcare sector. The chapter also volunteers a detailed analysis of the impact on countries of origin and looks at updated data for 2010/11 on the medical brain drain from 120 countries worldwide. The chapter concludes with a look at recent trends in the internationalisation of medical studies.

Most of the data published in this annex have been provided by national correspondents of the continuous reporting system on migration appointed by the OECD Secretariat with the approval of the authorities of Member countries. Consequently, these data are not necessarily based on common definitions. Countries under review in this annex are OECD countries for which data are available, as well as the Russian Federation. The continuous reporting system on migration has no authority to impose changes in data collection procedures. It is an observatory which, by its very nature, has to use existing statistics. However, it does play an active role in suggesting what it considers to be essential improvements in data collection and makes every effort to present consistent and well-documented statistics.