UK interested in project to return migrants to third countries

According to the annual report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on migration, more than one in ten people in OECD member countries is an immigrant, constituting a significant portion of the workforce. In 2025, immigrants represented 12% of the population in OECD countries, an increase from the 9.2% recorded in 2015.

The organization's analysts observe that migratory flows remain historically high, although there was a decrease in permanent migration for the second consecutive year in the previous year.

In the 38 countries comprising the OECD, including Portugal, the observed reduction in 2025 was 1.6%, which still resulted in the arrival of over 6.1 million new permanent immigrants. In contrast, Southern European countries showed sharp growth, with notable increases in Portugal, Italy, and Spain. The report points out that in frequent destinations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, or Germany, the numbers showed perceptible drops.

Family reunification remained the main means of permanent migration, accounting for 45% of the total flow. However, labor migration, which accounts for 20% of the total, continues to rise due to the constant demand for labor in various sectors.

Even in the face of signs of economic slowdown in certain nations, migrant participation rates in the labor market grew in most OECD members, often surpassing native rates. The situation of migrant women has improved considerably in recent years, raising their employment rates in most OECD countries and helping to reduce gender inequalities in employment.

Regarding asylum applications, there was a reduction in most OECD countries in 2025 after reaching record levels previously. Excluding the United States, applications fell by more than one-fifth compared to 2024, although they remain above pre-Covid-19 levels. The composition of these flows has changed, with a sharp drop in applications from Syrian citizens and an increase in the relevance of various African nationalities.

Concurrently, indicators of irregular migration decreased in many OECD countries, while returns continued to increase. Analysts attribute this scenario, in large part, to migration and integration policies, which are becoming more selective and conditional. Many OECD countries have implemented reinforcements in border management and surveillance and tightened entry criteria.

Conversely, several countries in the organization have expanded visas and streamlined programs aimed at attracting highly qualified professionals to strategic areas such as technology, health, and research. The report highlights that the international mobility of researchers has become a growing political priority, reflecting greater concerns about innovation, competitiveness, and technological leadership.

In the long-term care sector, migrants are taking on an increasingly relevant role, driven by demographic aging which generates a greater need for these services, while simultaneously reducing the pool of available workers. Analysts argue that it is crucial to harness the potential of migrants to sustain productivity growth, which has become a priority in the political agenda, making it urgent to maximize economic gains and mitigate any negative impacts.

Despite concluding that migration affects the productivity of each nation, the document points out that migrants tend to be concentrated in sectors and companies with lower productivity levels. The OECD, which includes nations from Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific, is an intergovernmental organization based in Paris, whose objective is to promote public policies aimed at improving economic and social well-being.