BERLIN — A new report reveals that immigrant employment across the European Union climbed to its highest level on record in 2025, though researchers say there is still considerable workforce potential going unused.
According to the study by the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration at the ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin, which was reviewed by Reuters on Thursday, the share of immigrants who are employed rose to 68.2% last year, up from 67.8% in 2024. The findings are based on data from Eurostat.
“The proportion of immigrants in employment has been rising for many years, and the figures are close to that of the native population,” said Tommaso Frattini, deputy director of the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration.
The most notable gains were seen among immigrants from outside the EU. Their employment rate jumped 6.6 percentage points between 2017 and 2025, moving from 59.4% up to 66%, bringing them closer in line with workers born in their country of residence. Immigrants from within the EU also saw their employment rate grow, going from 71.1% to 74.8% over the same period. Among native-born workers, the rate rose from 67.2% to 71.6%.
However, the picture varies considerably depending on the country. Non-EU immigrant employment is especially strong in Malta, the Czech Republic, and Ireland, while Belgium and Finland show notably lower rates. In Germany, the employment rate for non-EU immigrants sits at 66.1%, compared to 79.6% for native-born workers.
The report identified the most persistent gaps as being concentrated among non-EU immigrant women and migrants with higher levels of education.
“The challenge today is no longer simply getting immigrants into work but ensuring that their skills are fully utilised,” said Christian Dustmann, director of the ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin.
