Immigration to rich countries dropped during the global economic crisis, the first time that's happened since 2002, the OECD says.

Angel Gurria, the secretary-general of OECD, warned governments against tightening immigration policies as a result of the recession. (Christine Peloquin/CBC)

An Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development report Monday said that 4.4 million people migrated into the group's 31 member countries in 2008.

That's a six per cent drop from the previous year. Immigration into OECD countries increased by an average of 11 per cent per year from 2003 through 2007.

Preliminary data suggests the number of migrants dropped again in 2009, the group said in its annual migration survey. The group blamed a decreasing demand for labour for the drop.

The decreasing immigration trend line will need to be reversed, the group warned, if the labour needs of an aging population in the developed world are to be met.

"Current economic difficulties will not change long-term demographic trends and should not be used as an excuse to overly restrict immigration," OECD chief Angel Gurria said.

Migrant unemployment rose faster

Unemployment rose among male immigrants more than among their native counterparts in 2008 because many immigrants worked in construction, hotels and restaurants — industries badly hit by the crisis, the OECD said.

In some countries, employment of female immigrants has risen as women take jobs to make up for lost income of their unemployed spouses, it said.

Without an increase in current migration rates, the working-age population in OECD countries will increase by only 1.9 per cent in the next 10 years, according to the Paris-based institution's calculations.

That compares with an 8.6 per cent increase between 2000 and 2010.

With files from The Associated Press