Migrants In Europe Are Increasingly Educated, Study Finds

BERLIN, May 14 (Bernama-dpa) -- Migrants to the European Union (EU) are increasingly educated, but large variations persist between member states, according to a study published on Thursday, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

Among non-EU immigrants, the share of adults with a university education or equivalent rose from 26 per cent in 2017 to 32.6 per cent last year, according to the study by the Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin). It does not distinguish between people who completed their education before migrating or who did so in Europe.

The increase is in line with a rise in tertiary education among EU citizens, from 30.3 per cent in 2017 to 37.7 per cent in 2025, the study found. The figures for EU citizens living in other EU countries were similar.

Migration remains a politically sensitive issue as the EU prepares to enact reforms aimed at curbing arrivals. Simultaneously, the bloc is grappling with skilled labor shortages, and countries like Germany are struggling to attract qualified international personnel to counter a declining population.

The report found that figures varied greatly from country to country, with immigrants more likely to hold tertiary degrees than nationals in countries like Luxembourg, Denmark, Latvia and the Czech Republic.

Ireland is a particular case in point, with 70.7 per cent of immigrants born outside the EU holding a university degree or equivalent, according to the study. That compares to an average of just over 55 per cent for Irish and other EU citizens.

-- BERNAMA-dpa