Employment among immigrants in the European Union has reached its highest level since 2017, yet important differences remain across origin groups, countries and demographic characteristics. While EU immigrants frequently match or exceed native employment rates across Member States, substantial employment disadvantages remain concentrated among non-EU immigrant women and highly educated non-EU immigrants, pointing to significant untapped labour market potential.
This report examines educational attainment among natives, EU-born immigrants, and non-EU-born immigrants across the European Union, highlighting how differences by origin, gender, and country continue to shape educational outcomes despite a general rise in tertiary attainment since 2017.
The EU hosts a record 64 million foreign-born residents, with migration continuing to grow strongly, though unevenly across countries. While Germany and Spain dominate in absolute numbers, smaller Member States often face greater relative pressure.
The EU refugee population rose from about 1 million in 2014 to 7.8 million in 2024, driven by Syria and then the larger post-2022 Ukraine inflow. Germany remains the main host, but growth has been faster and uneven across countries, increasing pressure on asylum systems.
Employment in the EU has risen for all groups. EU migrants have the highest rates, non-EU migrants have improved but still lag, mainly due to lower employment among non-EU women, while men’s rates are similar across groups.
