Spain, for example, has an unemployment rate of 17.8 percent, but only 1.2 percent of the population is foreign. Austria, meanwhile, has a joblessness rate of 4.4 percent, but foreigners make up 9 percent of the population. Others argue that migrants depress wages and are a drain on welfare systems. But foreign workers also contribute to social security systems. With more contributors, countries may be able to keep tax rates down for the entire population.
Migrants also tend to have higher birthrates than the native populations.
This can increase demand for schools, parks, and prenatal care in the short term. It also means that when these youngsters come of age they can be a productive part of the local economy, which is particularly important as western European populations age and retirement programs become more difficult to support. These migrants also contribute to the cultural diversification of EU countries, as they establish countless ethnic restaurants and shops and introduce new views and behavior patterns. Yet the intermingling of natives and immigrants is often limited at best. Foreigners and natives may work together, and their children may go to the same schools, but at the end of the day, they often go their own ways.