Skills Research Initiative Working Paper 2006 D-23 - Skilled Immigration Flows in France and Switzerland

Strategic Policy Sector

Economic Research and Policy Analysis Branch

Skills Research Initiative Working Paper 2006 D-23 — Skilled Immigration Flows in France and Switzerland

This paper seeks to identify the main factors why skilled workers migrate to France and to Switzerland and whether their relative role changed when the countries moved from a limiting immigration policy to free mobility. Not surprisingly, the introduction of free mobility with only some source countries created a shift in the distribution of origins of skilled immigrants toward nationals from countries with an agreement. This is especially the case for countries with a common border with France and Switzerland and also for Portugal. Yet the shift varies across skill degrees and appears related to how France and Switzerland were able to compete for such immigrants. In particular, a rising proportion of highly skilled foreign immigrants to Switzerland come from high income countries while those going to France come from developing countries with no free mobility agreement.

Date: 2006
Format: Book, PDF
Registration Number: 60047
Catalogue Number: Not Applicable
ISBN: Not Applicable

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