How well-educated are your immigrants?

MIGRANTS to rich countries have generally spent longer in education than their native-born peers, according to a new report by the OECD. Since 2000 the proportion of recent migrants to OECD countries who have graduated from university has risen five percentage points to 31%; among the native-born population the proportion has risen four percentage points to 29%. Over 50% of immigrants to Canada and 47% of those to Britain have completed tertiary education, the highest levels among rich countries. By contrast, only 11% of immigrants to Italy and 13% to Greece have a degree. Countries that have succeeded in attracting a higher number of university-educated immigrants have generally implemented immigration policies that actively encourage skilled labour. Australia has streamlined its student-visa assessments and included post-study work rights for graduates to keep hold of the talent it nurtures. Canada and Denmark have also been particularly good in this respect. These lands of opportunity have fared far better than those with less attractive labour markets. Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Greece have seen a sharp decline in the number of well-educated migrants heading their way.