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.