Not just immigration. Italy also continues to be a nation of emigration: 152,000 Italians left the country in 2023, mainly to Spain and Germany.
These are the data contained in the OECD International Migration Outlook 2025 report published today.
"About 32% of Italian expatriates," the report states, " emigrated to Spain, 15% to Germany, and 13% to Switzerland."
In terms of arrivals, Italy welcomed 169,000 new long-term or permanent migrants: 16% fewer than in 2023. "This figure," the OECD specifies, "includes 23% of immigrants admitted under the free movement scheme (EU, ed.), 10% of professional immigrants, 61% for family reasons, and 5% humanitarian."
Also in 2024, Italy granted "20,000 residence permits to internationally mobile higher education students and 17,300 to temporary and seasonal migrant workers (with the exception of intra-EU migration)."
"Migration flows to OECD countries help address labor shortages and support the resilience of OECD economies," explained OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann , presenting the report at the Residence Palace in Brussels together with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner . Corman called for "effective migration policies to manage the associated pressures on public services and facilitate the integration of newcomers into the labor market."
While foreigners are beneficial to the labor market, they continue to be paid significantly less than natives. "While employers play a crucial role in attracting international talent, they are also essential in leveraging the skills of immigrants already present in host countries," warns the OECD, revealing that upon arrival in the host country, immigrants earn on average 34% less than their counterparts of the same age and gender native to the host country." After three years of sharp post-pandemic growth, permanent migration to OECD countries decreased by 4% in 2024.
The total of 6.2 million new permanent immigrants, however, remains historically high, 15% above 2019 levels. "Immigrants," writes Stefano Scarpetta, Director of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs at the OECD, "
