Overcoming the challenges that exist to integrating migrants requires an evidence-based debate. Recognizing this, the OECD, jointly with the European Commission, has released a report on the “Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2023: Settling In”.
This report provides the most comprehensive comparison of the integration outcomes of immigrants and their children in OECD, EU and selected other countries, through 83 indicators covering three main areas: labour market and skills; living conditions; and social integration. The publication is accompanied by a brochure summarizing the main results of the publication, and a large and interactive data portal to explore integration outcomes according to countries’ needs.
“Settling In” shows substantial progress over the last decade, especially in labor market integration of immigrants. However, while some signs are encouraging, the public perception about migrants’ integration is often at odds with available evidence and a number of areas of concern remain, notably regarding living conditions and social integration. For example, more than one in six immigrants live in overcrowded accommodation in both the OECD and the EU – a rate that is 70% higher than that of the native-born. Similarly, EU-wide, 26% of the foreign- and 16% of the native-born live in relative poverty. What is more, the perception of discrimination has increased over the past decade in many countries, notably in Europe. Interestingly in Cyprus, most immigrants report that they do not have and cannot easily attain proficiency in the host-country language while over 80% self-report good health status.