Migration to OECD Countries Declines for Second Consecutive Year
PARIS (Pakistan Point News - 13th Nov, 2026) Permanent migration to OECD countries declined by 1.6% in 2025, falling for the second consecutive year, but remained historically high at 6.1 million new permanent immigrants, 12.5% above its 2019 level, according to a new OECD report.
The International Migration Outlook 2026 shows that permanent migration, encompassing people moving for family, work, or humanitarian reasons with a long-term right to stay, declined in several major destination countries, while inflows continued to increase in others. Family reunification remained the primary reason for permanent migration, accounting for 45% of total inflows. Labour migration ( 20%) increased, while humanitarian migration ( 10%) declined significantly, dropping by 26% in 2025.
Beyond recent migration trends, the report examines how migration can assist OECD countries in tackling longer-term economic challenges, including slowing productivity growth and labour shortages linked to aging populations.
“Migration remains high, and immigrants now account for 16% of employment across the OECD,” stated OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. “With aging populations and slower productivity growth, countries cannot afford to waste the skills migrants bring. That means helping migrants transition into jobs where they can contribute most and providing better access to finance, networks, and business support for immigrant entrepreneurs.”
Immigrants constituted 12% of the OECD population in 2025, up from 9% in 2015. In over half of OECD countries, immigrants contributed at least 50% of employment growth between 2014 and 2024. However, the report finds that migration’s impact on productivity depends on how effectively countries harness migrants’ skills and support investment and innovation.