UNECE Task Force on the Socioeconomic Conditions of Migrants Progress report prepared for the UNECE/Eurostat Session on Migration Statistics Geneva, 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

Membership Countries  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  Focus:  Demographic  Education  Social and civic engagement  Labour market  Economic  Potential to include:  Health

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 dimension Themes Migrant Group Access & ParticipationEnvironmentPerformance & 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-born Themes (& 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 generation Themes (& 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 dimension Themes Migrant Group Access & ParticipationEnvironmentPerformance & 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-born Themes (& 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 generation Themes (& 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.