Trends in labour immigration to the Netherlands

The process of internationalisation is not only reflected in increased international trade and investment flows, but also in the increased movement of people across borders, often to take on jobs abroad (labour migration). Between 2000 and 2008, labour immigration to the Netherlands displayed a v-shaped trend, decreasing to a low of 32 thousand in 2004, and rising to 59 thousand in 2008. This trend mirrors the development of Dutch unemployment rates in this period. Many labour immigrants are Dutch nationals, and most likely returning emigrants. Poles accounted for the second
largest group of labour immigrants in 2008. Almost 20 percent of labour immigrants of non-Dutch nationality work for a foreign-owned enterprise. In particular, Japanese (54 percent), Chinese (26 percent) and American (21 percent) labour immigrants tend to work at enterprises from their respective countries of origin.