Immigration and the labour market,

a Labour Economics approach

Covadonga Ordóñez García

Professor, Department of Applied

Economic Analysis

Migration

Legal

regulations Labour Markets

Migration

Skilled or non

skilled workforce

Theory

framework

The Theory says…

But….

The reality is more complex than this …

• Existence of work permits

• Citizenship legislation (ius solis/ius sanguinis)• Citizenship legislation (ius solis/ius sanguinis)

• Different legal systems

• Irregular immigration

Which sources can we use?

• Administrative sources, register of contracts,

work permits, …

• Surveys such as EU Labour Force Survey• Surveys such as EU Labour Force Survey

• Indirect sources, particularly those related to

irregular immigration and other health

records.

Steps to studying migration and the

labour market.

• Define the variables.

• Identify the available data sources (national

and international) with their pros and cons.

“There is no perfect information, only the data “There is no perfect information, only the data

available ”

• Have at least a basic grasp of the legal system

on immigration, visas, permits, issues... etc.

Characteristics of the Spanish Labour

Market regarding non-nationals.

• Two regimes: EU citizens and non EU citizens.

• EU citizens do not need a work permit.

7

• EU citizens do not need a work permit.

• Duality in the market: undocumented

workers.

Ways to gain a work permit in Spain:

• Quota based on demand, by sector and province.

• Direct applications for a work and residence visa.

• Special agreements (Chile and Peru).

8

• Special agreements (Chile and Peru).

• Administrative authorisations to work (students,

residents, ...).

• Admissibility of the application for asylum.

Migration flow control mechanisms in

Spain:

• Quota based on demand :

– Annual

– Forecast

– Negotiated by Ministry of Employment with employers

and unions

9

and unions

• Catalogue of difficult to fill positions:

– Quarterly

– A posteriori

– Public Employment Service

Did it work?

Let's look at some data for the case of

Spain

Foreign population registered in Spain (1981-2012).

Source: Census. Spanish National Insitute of Statistic.

Work permit approved in Spain 2011.

60.000

80.000

100.000

120.000

0

20.000

40.000

Source: Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social

Source: Seguridad Social (National Insurance) 2011

Activity Rate, population from 16 to 64

years old.

Unemployment rate by nationality and sex.

Extranjeros=Foreigners, Españoles=Spaniards, Hombres=Men, Mujeres=Women, Doble

nacionalidad= double nationality

Useful links

• http://www.oecd.org/migration/

• http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu

• http://www.iom.int/cms/home

Thank you very much for your

participation.

Covadonga@csidiomas.ua.es

http://es.slideshare.net/covadongaog