Main Findings of the Conference on Entrepreneurship and Employment Creation of Immigrants in OECD Countries, 9-10 June 2010, Paris

Immigrants bring new skills to receiving countries, provide flexibility in the labour markets and help address labour shortages. They contribute to the economy as employees but also as entrepreneurs, creating new firms and businesses. Immigrants’ contribution to growth in entrepreneurial activity and employment creation in OECD countries has increased over the past decade. This can be measured in qualitative as well as in quantitative terms. In most OECD countries immigrants are slightly more inclined to engage in entrepreneurial activities than natives. Those activities go beyond traditional ethnic businesses and migrants are now creating businesses in a wide range of occupations and sectors, including innovative areas. Thanks to their transnational ties, migrant entrepreneurs can also contribute to expanding trade between the host country and their countries of origin.