Potential impact of migrants on Europe

To some extent, the pictures of migrants trying to make their way north after having crossed the Mediterranean or Aegean Sea illustrates an age-old truth: Besides unrest, destitution back home and attempts to flee war, migrants also want to work.

In Europe today that mostly means going to Germany, Scandinavian countries, Britain and other places, such as the Netherlands.

As free movement of labor is one of the founding principles of the European Union, many migrants will likely end up where the jobs are and, to a lesser extent, where other migrants from their home region have already settled to provide start-up comfort and support.