Migrating to Austria There have been relatively strong increases in migration through the full implementation of free movement

with countries that joined the EU in 2004.Employment has also grown more for migrants than for natives, according to the OECD. Since 2012, Austria has been using a points-based system for highly skilled workers, who can obtain two types of cards: an RWR (Red-White-Red) card grants residency and work with a specific employer; and an RWR card plus allows residency and free access to work. National average salary (PPP) US$43,555 Migrating to Belgium Belgium greatly facilitated access to citizenship in 2000, introducing one of the most liberal regimes in the OECD. Each region has a list of occupation shortages, used to compile a national list. For professionals qualified in those areas, conditions for acquiring work and stay permits are more flexible. Foreign highly skilled workers now make up a greater share of total entries for employment, as permits for the less skilled were largely issued to European citizens no longer subject to permit requirements. National average salary (PPP) US$44,364 Migrating to Denmark In 2008, Denmark adopted a so-called Positive List to facilitate the entrance of professionals in demand. A points-based system can also grant access to a Green Card which allows qualified workers to look for a job in the country. In 2011, a new government announced a reform of the migration policy. The permanent residence permit is now based on four requirements: at least five years' residence in Denmark, three years' full-time employment, financial self-support and a language test. National average salary (PPP) US$45,560

Migrating to France In 2011, France introduced the EU Blue Card directive, and reduced the number of occupations in short supply on its list from 30 to 14. It also adopted stricter rules, allowing people with higher qualifications to stay in the country and gain work experience in their as temporary workers. But France also has specific lists of occupations (of varying skills) that can be filled by nationals from African countries with which it has agreements, such as Congo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Tunisia. National average salary (PPP) US$38,128 Migrating to Germany Germany has had a ban on recruiting foreign workers in place since 1973 to protect its domestic labour force. However, the shortage of highly skilled professionals in areas such as engineering, IT and health prompted the government to implement the EU Blue Card directive in 2012, facilitating access to non-EU professionals. Qualified workers can also enter the country for six months to look for a job. National average salary (PPP) US$40,223 Migrating to Ireland Ireland has seen a sharp decrease in its net migration since being hardly hit by the financial crisis. Migrants, especially highly and medium-skilled professionals, have been more affected by jobs losses than native-borns. Since 2010, Ireland has shifted its migration policy to attract selected skilled workers. The country limited the issue of new employment permits to those with highly paid job offers and those in occupations with recognised shortages, who enter the country through the Green Card scheme. National average salary (PPP) US$50,764

Migrating to Luxembourg During the economic crisis, employment for migrants in Luxembourg increased more than for native workers. In 2011, the country adopted the Blue Card directive for citizens of non-EU and non-EEA countries. To be eligible, professionals must have a diploma of higher education or five years specialised professional experience, a work contract of at least one year and a salary of at least 66,000 euros ($ 87,000) or 53,000 for occupations in demand, mostly in the IT sector. National average salary (PPP) US$52,847 Migrating to Norway In 2010, Norway reached a new record-high level of immigration, especially due to free movement flows from countries like Sweden, Lithuania and Poland. The country has set an annual limit of 5,000 skilled migrants, which has never been reached, and the government has also been taking measures to attract entrepreneurs. In 2011, the number of permits to skilled migrants reached a peak. Norway currently has a list of about 150 occupations in demand, including high-, medium- and low-skilled professions. National average salary (PPP) US$43,990 Migrating to Singapore In recent years, Singapore has emerged as one of the most attractive countries for highly skilled professionals, with a number of policies to support their immigration. There are 93 skills on its list of in-demand jobs and the country admitted about 174,000 highly skilled professionals until June 2012. In September that year, the government raised the salary requirements for labour migrants to bring their families, so it could "ease the pressure" on its social infrastructure. National average salary (PPP) US$31,392

Migrating to Sweden Sweden is considered to have one the most liberal regimes for labour migration in Europe. Since 2008, the recruitment of labour from countries outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) has been eased. The country has a list of about 80 in-demand occupations, including high-, medium- and low-skilled professions. Migrants need to have a written employment offer from a potential employer in Sweden. Family members are generally allowed residence permits and access to the labour market. National average salary (PPP) US$37,734 Migrating to Switzerland Switzerland has one of the biggest immigrant populations in Europe, mostly highly skilled. During the crisis, native unemployment rose more than immigrant unemployment in the country. Most of the professionals who migrate do Switzerland come from the EU, since the regulations to obtain a working permit are much tighter for countries outside the EU/EEA. Foreigners from other countries must have an employment offer, and employers must show they have made "intensive efforts" to recruit professionals inside Switzerland and the EU. National average salary (PPP) US$50,242 Migrating to United Kingdom Since 2010, the UK's migration system has become more demand-driven. In 2010, the government introduced measures to reduce net migration, including that of skilled professionals, with the purpose of protecting the domestic labour force. The measures included caps limiting the number of people admitted in the highly skilled categories (Tier 1 and Tier 2). In 2011, the Shortage Occupation list was reduced. In 2012, some of the conditions for entry were made more flexible in response to requests from businesses and employers. National average salary (PPP) US$44,743

Migrating to United States From 2000 to 2010, there were close to three highly educated new entrants in the US for every retiring one, according to the OECD. But since the economic downturn, sectors that typically employ highly skilled workers, like the financial sector, have recorded substantial job losses. The US keeps a so-called "Schedule A" list of shortage occupations. Professionals in those occupations have their conditions to apply for a Green Card eased, but they must have a job offer. National average salary (PPP) US$54,450