WIREDGOV

European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström and László Andor, the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, have welcomed the OECD report International Migration Outlook 2012, published yesterday.

Cecilia Malmström said: "If we want to fully benefit from the potential of migration, we need to continue to work with determination on a long-term, well-managed legal migration policy and effective integration policies. Europe is facing a long-term demographic challenge and a rapidly changing labour market. In order for us to remain economically competitive, we need to attract workers, in particular high-skilled workers, from third countries."

Commissioner Andor said: "The OECD report gives us a comprehensive picture on the impact of economic crisis on migration. At a time of intensified global economic uncertainty, it underlines several ways how governments can better respond to labour needs through migration and integration policies. The report also establishes a clear link between employment and migration. Mobile workers go where the jobs are. This is why I want to underline the potential of labour mobility to help to rebalance supply and demand in different EU countries' labour markets.."

The OECD report analyses recent developments in migration movements and policies in OECD countries. It underlines the central role of employment in the process of migrant integration in the host society and the need for concrete integration policies with particular emphasis on education, including language training, and actions promoting labour market integration.

The report also emphasises the link between employment and migration noting signs of increasing outflows from countries hard hit by the economic crisis. The need for increased labour mobility within Europe is also highlighted by the Employment Package published by the European Commission in April (see IP/12/380 and MEMO/12/256). Yesterday's report contains some indications of a growing interest for mobility among EU citizens. To further facilitate mobility within the EU, the Commission proposes to transform EURES into a full-fledged tool for matching jobs and job-seekers across borders.

As the report notes Europe appears to be missing the necessary resources for the required upskilling particularly in the most promising and fastest growing sectors. Maintaining open pathways to economic migration is necessary to counter this challenge. Regarding the demand side, the Employment Package outlined the significant employment opportunities for the years ahead in ICT, the green economy and the health sector. The Commission stresses the need to invest in skills to make sure that workers can enter or remain in a competitive labour market, and the European Social Fund (ESF) can play a useful role in this respect

Link to the OECD report "International Migration Outlook 2012":

www.oecd.org/migration/imo