The EC report on free labor access shows immigrants from the EU’s newest members have contributed to the economic growth of the countries to which they have migrated.
The number of Romanians and Bulgarians working in an EU country other than their home country rose to 1.8 million at the end of 2007, compared to 690,000 in 2003. The main destination country for both Romanians and Bulgarians was Spain, where 57 percent and 56 percent, respectively, moved to work. Italy was the second country preferred by Romanians, with 25 percent of immigrants.
The recent wave of Romanian immigration to EU states amounts to some 2.5 percent of the country’s active population. More than two thirds of immigrants are under the age of 35, the report shows.
Some 28 percent of Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants works in the construction sector, a further 19 percent is engaged in household jobs, and 7 percent works in agriculture.
