Consider migrants as a resource rather than a problem says OECD

The increasing number of people moving within the European Union is driving the rise in migration registered in OECD countries, after several years of decline caused by the crisis. High skilled migration and humanitarian movements to OECD countries are also increasing. Migration policies need to keep pace with these changes, according to a new OECD report.

The 2014 International Migration Outlook says that permanent migration flows to the OECD area have begun to rebound, rising by a modest 1.1% in 2013 after a fall of 0.8% in 2012. There are more than 115 million immigrants in the OECD today, about 10 percent of the total population. One in ten new migrants is from China, and one in five from Asia.

“Countries would benefit more from immigration if they consider migrants as a resource rather than a problem, and integration policies as an investment,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, launching the report in Paris, with Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, and Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Canada.

“Migration policies should be a priority for OECD countries, and integration policies should be seen as the best possible investment in terms of growth, social cohesion and well-being,” said Mr Gurría. “The short and long-term costs of standing still in the face of rapidly changing needs are high. Policy makers need to lead an open and informed debate to build confidence and ensure everyone benefits.”

via Newsroom – OECD.