People with a migrant background are integral to the economic dynamism, social fabric and demographic resilience of cities. Yet, many encounter barriers that prevent them from fully contributing to urban prosperity. Across the EU and OECD, people with a migrant background are concentrated in densely populated areas and represent a significant share of urban workforces, while facing unequal access to education, stable employment, adequate and affordable housing, or essential services and infrastructure. These barriers can accumulate from arrival through to longer-term settlement, constraining upward mobility, deepening spatial exclusion and weakening community-building. Conversely, well-designed inclusive growth policies can help cities unlock the skills, entrepreneurship and civic participation of migrant-background residents, enabling them to both benefit and contribute to urban growth. This paper provides practical guidance for local and national policymakers to drive inclusive growth for people with a migrant background. Drawing on evidence from EU and OECD cities, it highlights policy action across five areas: education, labour markets, housing and the built environment, public services and infrastructure, and fair climate action. It emphasises the importance of linking early reception to long-term inclusion, and of equipping cities with the governance, evidence, financing and delivery capacity needed to sustain effective action over time.
