Migrants are a disadvantaged group in the Australian labour market. Apart from rates of unemployment that are much higher than those experienced by the Australian born, they also have far lower rates of labour force participation. While lower rates of participation by migrants may be attributed to such factors as their birthplace (language skills) and period of residence (local knowledge), the ever widening gap in participation between migrants and the Australian born suggests that other dynamic factors must also be at work. This Research Note examines trends in migrant participation and the factors which influence those trends.