Why is work-related migration to rich countries falling?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Alex Kozul-WrightDecember 1, 2025 at 06:32 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Work-related migration to wealthy OECD countries experienced a significant decline of 21% between 2023 and 2024, according to a recent OECD report. This decrease, impacting countries across Europe, Australia, Canada and the UK, saw the number of people admitted for permanent work purposes fall to approximately 934,000. The downturn is attributed to a combination of factors, including weakened labor markets and the tightening of visa policies in countries like the UK. A less favorable global economic situation, as highlighted by the IMF's reduced growth forecast, also contributed. Additionally, the influx of Ukrainian refugees granted temporary protection in Europe has eased labor shortages in some sectors, further reducing the demand for foreign workers.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

International Monetary Fund (IMF) 50% Australia 60% UK 70% Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ×270% Donald Trump ×280%

Keywords

work-related migration 100% visa rules 80% oecd 70% labour markets 60% economic slowdown 60% immigration rules 50% migration policy 50% global economy 50% donald trump 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.20

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

United Kingdom

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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