The first pie chart illustrates the reasons why people immigrated to a European country in 2009, while the second chart shows the reasons for emigration from a European country in the same year.
Overall, the most common reason for immigration was having a definite job offer, whereas the majority of people who emigrated did so in search of employment. Education and family-related reasons were also notable factors in both charts, although to varying degrees.
In terms of immigration, the largest proportion of people, 29%, moved because they already had a specific job lined up. This was closely followed by those who came seeking employment, at 25%. Education accounted for 15% of the immigrants, while 10% moved to join family members. A further 14% immigrated for other reasons, and 7% reported no particular reason.
Regarding emigration, the most significant factor was looking for work, which accounted for 38%. Those who left with a definite job offer made up 27%, a slightly smaller percentage than among immigrants. Only 6% of emigrants left for educational purposes, compared to 15% of immigrants. The proportion of people who emigrated for other reasons stood at 23%, while just 2% reported no specific reason.