UNECE Task Force on the Socioeconomic Conditions of Migrants

Progress report prepared for the UNECE/Eurostat Session on Migration StatisticsGeneva, 17-19 October 2012

Overview

Background Methodological Objectives Membership Other Relevant Initiatives

Task Force Framework A Longitudinal Approach Two Migrant Groups Six Socio-Economic Dimensions

Examples Demographic dimension Education dimension Social civic dimension

Challenges

Next steps

Background

The problem: Despite the growing phenomenon of international

migration, there is still much that we don’t know.

What is needed: Identify and understand the most relevant socio-

economic issues on migrants Robust statistical information on the socio-economic

characteristics of migrants

MembershipCountries Canada (Chair) Australia Denmark Estonia Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Palestine Spain Turkey United Kingdom United States

International Organizations OECD European Union Agency for

Fundamental Rights (FRA) Eurostat UNECE

Methodological Objectives

Measurement on the different dimensions

Improve availability, quality and comparability of data

Other relevant initiatives

Mainstreaming of migration statistics

Zaragoza Pilot Study

Suitland Working Group

Reasons for the time perspective in understanding migrant groups

Migrants’ socioeconomic conditions are influenced by their characteristics at arrival and the period in which they arrive, and tend to change with duration in the country

Different data type – Different implications on research questions, analytic methods and indicators. Cross-sectional data:

Characteristics at the time of data collection, e.g., age, year since migration, generation

Time series trends Synthetic cohort method Retrospective questions that portray life history

Longitudinal data: Longitudinal trends Pathway analysis

Migrant groups

Foreign-born Second Generation

The work of the Task Force has focused on two migrant groups

Socio-economic dimensions

Demographic dimension

Fundamental in understanding migrant groups: It is about the attributes of a given migrant group

For example, the comparison of the composition and distribution of the migrant population with that of the non-migrant population in the host country

Highlight over time whether demographic characteristics or behaviour converge with host country nationals and identify the factors for the convergence and dissimilarity

Demographic factors to consider when comparing the socioeconomic conditions across migrants groups (e.g., comparing migrant youth with non-migrant youth, etc)

Demographic indicators

Proposed indicators: Individual characteristics at the time of data collection,

e.g., age, gender, citizenship, place of birth, location of usual residence, year since migration, marital status

Fertility rates Household and family composition Admissions categories and legal entitlements

eligible to work or receive social welfare benefits visa type

Efficiency of host country’s language General health

Education dimensionThemes

Migrant GroupAccess & Participation Environment Performance & Outcomes

Foreign-born •If migrants have access to post-migration education or training?

•What obstacles, difficulties do migrants encounter with their education ?

•What are their educational outcomes before and after migration?•How well do migrants transition into the host economy?

Second Generation Migrants

•Who gains access to education?•How well do they move through the education system?

•What are the conditions of migrants’ learning environment?

•How well do they perform in the education system? •What is their intergenerational educational mobility?•How well do they make the transition from school to work?

Education indicators for foreign-bornThemes (& research questions) Indicators

If foreign-born have access to post-migration education or training?

•Type of training : job-related, language, formal education• Full time vs Part time student status•School attendance/enrolment• Education drop-out•Post migration education attainment trajectory

What obstacles, difficulties do migrants encounter with their education?

• Process of credential recognition• Length of time in training

What are their educational outcomes before and after migration?

• Educational attainment• Field of study• Place of highest education

How well do migrants transition into the host economy?

• Skill and job match (over-qualification)

Education indicators for second generationThemes (& research questions) Indicators

Who gains access to education? •School attendance/enrolment•Drop-out rates

How well do they moved through the education system?

•Early school leavers•Length of study•Trajectory of moving in and out of school

What are the condition of migrants’ learning environment?

•Student-teacher ratio•Dissimilarity index•Composition of student population in school

How well do they perform in the education system?

•Level of literacy – reading, mathematic and science•Educational attainment

How well do they make the transition from school to work?

Social and Civic dimensionThemes

Migrant GroupAccess &

ParticipationEnvironment

Performance & Outcomes

Foreign-born •Do migrants socially engage with their new society?

•How well do migrants use and access services?

•Are migrants able to access support in times of need?

•What are the barriers to participation?

•Do migrants experience discrimination and victimisation?

•What is their sense of affiliation with the host country?

•Does volunteering lead to employment?

Second Generation Migrants

•How well do they participate within their community?

•Who has access to services?

•How culturally diverse is the second generation?

•How well do they engage with the political and civic process?

•Does the second generation volunteer?

Social and Civic indicators for foreign-bornThemes (& research questions)

Indicators

Do migrants socially engage with their new society?

• Participation rates for:• arts and cultural activities• sporting activities

How well do migrants use and access services?

• Services used• Barriers to access

Are migrants able to access support in times of need?

• Sources of support• Ability to access support

What are the barriers to participation? • Types of barrier to social participation

Do migrants experience discrimination and victimisation?

• Proportion of migrants who• experience assault, violence• feel safe at home; in public places

What is their sense of affiliation with the host country?

• Citizenship take up rates• Level of voter participation

Does volunteering lead to employment? • Volunteering by organisation type

Social and Civic indicators for second generationThemes (& research questions)

Indicators

How well do they participate within their community?

• Participation rates for:• arts and cultural activities• sporting activities

Who has access to services? • Types of services used

How culturally diverse is the second generation?

• Level of ‘mixed’ marriage/relationships• Language proficiency (host country/parents language)• Religious affiliation

How well do they engage with the political and civic process?

• Proportion of people who have served in public office

Does the second generation volunteer? • Types of organisations volunteered for

Challenges

Higher non-response due to the transient nature of the population

Methods of collection

Limitations to the size and distribution of the immigrant/second generation population

Limited information on details to further distinguish migrant groups

Asking longitudinal research questions

Availability of longitudinal data

What are the next steps? Data needs

Fall 2012: Continue to identify the relevant issues and indicators for the other socio-economic dimensions (labour market, economic, health)

Data availability/quality

Fall 2012: Review existing sources (censuses, household survey, population registry, administrative database) and their suitability to provide relevant data

Winter 2013: Share practices and write guidelines to countries intending to produce statistics on socio-economic conditions of migrants using existing data sources.