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Refugee and Migration Policy in the European Union: towards a new approch ?

Cicero Foundation, Paris 18-19 November 2004

New trends within OECD countries to encourage the international

migration of highly skilled workers: overview and challenges

Jean-Christophe Dumont OECD

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Purpose and Scope This presentation aims at reviewing the recent changes in

the international mobility of the highly skilled focusing on the role and limits of migration policies in OECD countries.

The first part will describe how most OECD countries have recently adapted their immigration policies to facilitate the recruitment of highly skilled foreign workers

The second part will present the main limits of these policies The conclusion will address briefly the potential impacts on

developing countries

OECD Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs, DELSA

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Economic context and policy responses In the late 90’s employers reported labour shortages

… in highly skilled occupations … … as well as for semi and low skilled jobs

Labour shortages had many causes including (i) economic boom, (ii) rapid technological changes, (iii) mismatch between supply and demand of labour, (iv) lack of labour mobility, (v) structural rigidities in the labour market and (v) overestimation of the needs.

Most OECD countries responded, inter alia, by adapting their migration policy to facilitate the recruitment of foreign qualified labour …

… because short term solutions were needed and because “the more the better”

OECD Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs, DELSA

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Selective employment-related immigration policies in OECD countries OECD countries faced similar needs for highly skilled workers … but responded by different types of policies such as

Despite recent changes in the economic business cycle, these policies have not been challenged significantly

Adapting selective migration policies (Canada, Australia) Introducing or reviewing specific migration programs (Germany, UK,

USA, Norway) Creating labour shortage occupation lists (UK, Australia, Ireland) Easing labour recruitment (France, Japan, Korea) and changes of status Creating special incentive for recruiting highly skilled workers

OECD Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs, DELSA

5OECD Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs, DELSA

former Soviet-Union former Soviet-Union republicsrepublics

RussiaRussia

UkraineUkraine

EU CountriesEU Countries

Settelment countriesSettelment countries

« Cascade » Migration

other other NICNIC

1345

1114

4234

433

3625

2282 20075

450

1106

214 4635

3807

Cuba

United States

South Africa

United Kingdom

New ZealandAustralia

Canada

Rural

1345

1018

International mobility of doctors

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International migration of the highly skilled in figures

Immigrant and emigrant population 15+ with tertiary education in OECD countries Thousands

-1500

-1000

-500

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000 Highly skilled immigrantsHighly skilled emigrants to OECD countriesNet highly skilled migrants

8204

OECD Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs, DELSA

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Potentialities and limits Past experiences in migration policies for the recruitment

of foreign labour demonstrate the positive role that can be played by foreign workers, especially during periods of strong economic growth …

… but also underline some of the limits to such policies, which relate mainly to :

Identification and selection of suitable foreign workers Implementation and adaptability of employment related

migration programsEfficiency and external constraints

OECD Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs, DELSA

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Taking into account the potential impact on origin countries …

Better sharing the benefits of the international mobility of the highly skilled : a shared responsibility between sending and receiving countries

Efficiency : facilitating the international mobility

Ethics: considering the potential negative impacts (code of conduct)

Equity: sharing the cost of human capital investment

Sustainability : improving the management of human resources in sending and receiving countries

OECD Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs, DELSA

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… especially in small and LD countries

Country.shpNot available1 - 34 - 89 - 1920 - 83

Source: see Annex 1, Secretariat calculations based on Cohen and Soto (2001) for highly skilled stocks in countries of origin.

Map 1. Percentage of expatriates to OECD countries among all highly skilled born in the country

OECD Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs, DELSA

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Conclusion Although it is hard to gauge the nature and size of labour shortages, research

stresses short term and long term needs for skilled labour

From the point of view of OECD countries, employment-related immigration policies will be effective only within limits.

As migration alone can not alleviate the impact of population ageing it won’t resolve labour market failures. Current efforts to introduce a raft of measures to tap existing labour reserves in OECD countries should therefore be encouraged and pursued.

Furthermore, the potential impacts of selective migration policies on origin countries needs to be better taken into account and the coherence between migration and international cooperation policies to be significantly strengthened.

OECD Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs, DELSA