joint unece/eurostat work session on migration statistics organised in collaboration with unfpa

S T A T I S T I C S A U S T R I A

Joint UNECE/Eurostat Work Session on Migration Statistics

organised in collaboration with UNFPA

Geneva, Switzerland, 3-5 March 2008

The use of time stamps for measuring short-term migrants in

Austrian Migration Statistics

Submitted by STATISTICS AUSTRIA

Stephan Marik-Lebeck

www.statistik.at

S T A T I S T I C S A U S T R I AS T A T I S T I C S A U S T R I A04.03.2008

SSED Montréal, 6-8 Dec 2007 How should we count? Methodological debates - Session 3.1

Time Stamps For Measuring Short-term Migrants in Austria

UNECE/Eurostat WG Migration StatisticsGenéve 3-5 March 2008

Challenges in defining and measuringdifficult-to-count migrants – Item 4

2

CONTENTS

Introduction

Definitions of Duration for Residents and migration

The impact of short- and long-term migration in Austria

The use of other sources to measure short-term migration in Austria – possibilities and limitations

Conclusion






3

INTRODUCTION

Migration statistics reflect national administrative systems inconsistency between most countries

Population and migration statistics refer to residential population ("permanent residents") problems for adequate recording of people not registered for the complete reference period

Classification of migration through permit expiry or intended length of stay not necessarily reflecting the actual length of stay

Depicting at least an “administrative reality” by using registrations of permanent residences






4

Since 2002: register of residences in Austria

Population stock and migration flows derived under identical criteria from registrations and de-registrations of main residences

information from register on the residence duration used to classify population stocks (“Permanent Residents”) and migration flows

classification based on the “1998 UN Recommendations on Statistics of International Migration”: Temporary stayers: 0 to 90 days; Short term migration: 91 to 365 days and Long term migration: 366 days and longer.

DEFINITIONS OF DURATION FOR RESIDENTS AND MIGRATION






5

Minimum of 90 days of continuous registration in Austria for inclusion in population and migration statistics

register would allow any time span

Austria can thus fulfill requirements of EU regulation on migration statistics distinguish long-term migration

However, schedule for delivery of data makes estimations necessary

No consistency with national data

DEFINITIONS OF DURATION FOR RESIDENTS AND MIGRATION






6

THE IMPACT OF SHORT- AND LONG-TERM MIGRATION IN AUSTRIA

Austria 2003/2005immigration emigration net-migration

Abs. % Abs. % Abs. %

Registered Migrations 146.475 100,0 101.864 100,0 44.611 100,0

of which:

Temporary Stayers (≤90 days)

26.883 18,4 27.622 27,1 -739 -1,6

Short-Term Migration (91-365 days)

28.737 19,6 23.866 23,4 4.871 10,9

Long-Term Migration (>365 days)

90.855 62,0 50.376 49,5 40.479 90,7

National Migration statistics (STM + LTM)

119.592 81,6 74.242 72,9 45.350 101,6






7

THE IMPACT OF SHORT- AND LONG-TERM MIGRATION IN AUSTRIA

Migration impact of short-term migrations not very important

However significant migration flows

Exclusion of temporary stayers reduces size of migration flows

Yet only partial coverage in registers

Inclusion of short-term migrants offers insight in circular migration patterns

Covers seasonal workers in tourism and agriculture

No significant augmentation of migration balance

Allows quicker publication of data






8

OTHER SOURCES TO MEASURE SHORT-TERM MIGRATION – POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Determine short-term migrants through number of permits with limited validity

Ministry of Interior publishes monthly and annual permit statistics

Disaggregated by first-time permits

Prolongations

Changes of purpose (in most cases equal to prolongation)

However, validity of permits gives no information on actual length of stay in Austria, nor about the place of residence






9

OTHER SOURCES TO MEASURE SHORT-TERM MIGRATION – POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Indication for length of stay is maximum validity of permits for different purposes as defined by national law

permits do not include a PIN to link them with the registration register no automatic de-registration once permit has expired

no information on permits for EU-/EWR- and Swiss citizens

permit statistics only comparable for third-country nationals






10

Accorded residence permits and asylum applications in 2002-2006

Type of residence permit 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

First-time settlement allowances (unlimited)

Subject to a quota (a) 4.069 6.258 5.138 8.027 6.596

outside the quota (b) 12.664 25.908 26.697 26.537 20.570

of which: relatives of Austrian nationals 8.595 23.444 23.308 22.701 18.054

Residence permits (limited)

First-time permits (c) 6.613 21.200 32.209 35.405 38.801

of which:persons in temporary employment / seasonal workers . 9.973 15.718 17.384 19.797

Residence visa D+C (d) 10.711 . . . .

Applications for asylum (e) 13.349 22.461 24.634 32.359 39.354

total (Sum of a-e) 47.406 75.827 88.678 102.328 105.321

Source: Austrian Ministry of Interior, Statistics on Asylum and Foreigners






11

Comparison of permit and migration statistics in Austria 2002-2006

2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

Issued Residence permits and asylum applications 47.406 75.827 88.678 102.328 105.321

Immigration according to Migration Statistics 100.972 117.822 127.399 113.554 113.165

Austrian Nationals 15.588 16.367 18.452 16.390 20.598

Foreigners 85.384 101.455 108.947 97.164 92.567

of which: EU-14 23.387 22.277 19.888 16.913 14.222

EU-10 (Accession 2004) 15.711 16.673 16.310 … …

Third-Country-Nationals 46.286 62.505 72.749 80.251 78.345

Source: Austrian Ministry of Interior, Statistics on Foreigners and Asylum






12

The feasibility of time-limits has to be seen in view of distinct legal frameworks for recording migration in different countries

Inclusion of short-term migrants in migration statistics requires adaptations also in definitions of the population stock

Use of common statistical criteria for migration flows and population stocks

Ensure consistency of migration statistics with other demographic data, esp. on regional level

harmonisation with definitions in censuses

CONCLUSION






13

Integration of different data sources for migration statistics is hindered by different statistical designs

increase knowledge of data producers of rationale behind administrative procedures preceding the preparation of statistics

Statistical proceeding of short-term migrants should also take into account the legal framework for the sojourns of foreigners

no adjustments of administrative procedures for statistical purposes necessary

Statistics on short-term migration should be provided under harmonised criteria on a European level

CONCLUSION






14

The main question guiding the process of harmonisation and improving migration statistics should be:

“What kind of “migration reality” are we going to produce in the future?”

CONCLUSION






15www.statistik.at

The use of time stamps for measuring short-term migrants in

Austrian Migration Statistics

Submitted by STATISTICS AUSTRIA

Stephan [email protected]

joint unece/eurostat work session on migration statistics organised in collaboration with unfpa

Documents