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Five common fears about immigration

Migration's impact on the native labor force is a major concern among politicians, policymakers, and the public, and is a key factor in shaping migration policy. Research shows that immigration and emigration have positive and negative implications for the native workforce, and that these often differ sharply from public perceptions and media coverage.

Read more articles on migrant-native issues.

Read Giovanni Peri's article: "Do immigrant workers depress the wages of native workers?"

Read Amelie F. Constant's article: "Do migrants take the jobs of native workers?"

Read Corrado Giulietti's article: "The welfare magnet hypothesis and the welfare take-up of migrants"

Read Brian Bell's article: "Crime and immigration"

Read Osea Giuntella's article: "Do immigrants improve the health of native workers?"

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  • Do migrants take the jobs of native workers?

    Neither public opinion nor evidence-based research supports the claim of some politicians and the media that immigrants take the jobs of native-born workers. Public opinion polls in six migrant-destination countries after the 2008–2009 recession show that most people believe that immigrants fill job vacancies and many believe that they create jobs and do not take jobs from native workers. This view is corroborated by evidence-based research showing that immigrants—of all skill levels—do not significantly affect native employment in the short term and boost employment in the long term.

    Read Amelie F. Constant's article: "Do migrants take the jobs of native workers?"

  • Integrating refugees into labor markets

    For the first time since the Second World War, the total number of refugees amounts to more than 50 million people. Only a minority of these refugees seek asylum, and even fewer resettle in developed countries. At the same time, politicians, the media, and the public are worried about a lack of economic integration. Refugees start at a lower employment and income level, but subsequently “catch up” to the level of family unification migrants. However, both refugees and family migrants do not “catch up” to the economic integration levels of labor migrants. A faster integration process would significantly benefit refugees and their new host countries.

    Read Pieter Bevelander's article: "Integrating refugees into labor markets"