Archive · 23 Jul 2026
Immigrant employment in EU hits record high
In 2025, the number of immigrants working in the European Union reached a new high.
More immigrants are finding jobs, but there are still differences between countries and groups.
For example, non-EU immigrants in Malta, the Czech Republic, and Ireland have higher employment rates, while those in Belgium and Finland have lower rates.
The focus now is on making sure that immigrants' skills are used well in their jobs.
There are still challenges, especially for non-EU women and highly educated migrants.
Immigrant employment in the EU reached a record high of 68.2% in 2025.
Non-EU immigrant employment rate increased by 6.6 percentage points from 2017 to 2025.
EU immigrant employment rate rose from 71.1% in 2017 to 74.8% in 2025.
Employment rates vary widely across EU countries, with high rates in Malta, the Czech Republic, and Ireland, and lower rates in Belgium and Finland.
Germany has a non-EU immigrant employment rate of 66.1%, compared to 79.6% for native-born workers.
- Who
- Immigrants in the European Union
- What
- Employment rate among immigrants reached a record high in 2025
- When
- 2025
- Where
- European Union
- Why
- To narrow the gap with native-born workers and utilize immigrant skills fully
Immigrant Employment Progress
Persistent Employment Gaps
Employment Rate Increase
Immigrant Employment Progress
The employment rate among immigrants increased to 68.2% in 2025, showing significant progress.
Persistent Employment Gaps
Despite the increase, the employment rate among non-EU immigrants remains lower than that of native-born workers.
Regional Disparities
Immigrant Employment Progress
Countries like Malta, the Czech Republic, and Ireland show high employment rates among non-EU immigrants.
Persistent Employment Gaps
Countries like Belgium and Finland have much lower employment rates for non-EU immigrants.
Skill Utilization
Immigrant Employment Progress
The focus is now on ensuring that immigrants' skills are fully utilized in the workforce.
Persistent Employment Gaps
There are significant gaps in employment among non-EU women and highly educated migrants.
- Employment Rate (2025)
- 68.2%
- Employment Rate (2024)
- 67.8%
- Non-EU Immigrant Employment Rate (2025)
- 66%
- Non-EU Immigrant Employment Rate (2017)
- 59.4%
- EU Immigrant Employment Rate (2025)
- 74.8%
- EU Immigrant Employment Rate (2017)
- 71.1%
- Germany Non-EU Employment Rate
- 66.1%
- Germany Native Employment Rate
- 79.6%