The global workforce represented by migrants continues to rise. Until 2022 it represented the 4.7% of the job occupation internationally, according to a report published by the International Labor Organization (ILO). Despite sustained growth, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the pace of expansion to less than 1% annually between 2019 and 2022.
This implies that some 167.7 million international migrants They were part of the global workforce in 2022. An increase of more than 30 million compared to 2013demonstrating the growing role of migrant workers in the global economy.
The majority of migrants in the labor force remain men, representing the 61.3% (102.7 million), while the women They are only part of the 38.7% (64.9 million) remaining. This gap portrays structural obstacles, sociocultural barriers and specific difficulties in accessing job opportunities.
Why do migrants have a higher participation rate in the international labor force?
International migrants have a higher labor force participation rate (65.8%) compared to non-migrants (60.1%), mainly because this flow of people moving from their countries of origin is usually driven by economic reasons.
However, migrant women face a lower participation rate (52.8%) compared to men (77.9%), reflecting the additional difficulties they face in the labor market.
The report also highlights that the majority of labor migrants It is concentrated in high-income countries. These absorb the 68.4% (114.7 million) of the foreign workforce and is explained by the greater number of job opportunities and higher standards of living in these economies.
At the regional level, Western Europe, North America and the Arab States They are the main destinations. He 80.7% of migrant women and the 60.8% of migrant men they perform in the services sectorparticularly in care and domestic work. “Many destination countries are experiencing population aging, boosting demand for health care and domestic services,” the report says.
Still, migrants face higher unemployment rates (7.2%) compared to non-migrants (5.2%), due to barriers such as language, non-recognition of their qualifications and discrimination.
The case of Latin America and the Caribbean
In the case of Latin America and the Caribbeanthe region has a double function: as a source of important migratory flows and as a destination for workers from neighboring countries.
Latin American labor migrants are overrepresented in sectors such as construction, agriculture and domestic work, where they often face precarious conditions and lack of social protection.
In addition, young people represent a significant proportion of labor migrants in the region, in search of better economic and educational opportunities.
According to the report, the countries of North America continue to be the main destinations for migrant workers in the region, although with a slight drop in participation compared to 2013 due to migration policies in recent years, a fact that could worsen with the return of Donald Trump to the White House with the tightening of the immigration measures predicted by the Government of Canada.
At the same time, Latin America also observed an increase in migrants from Venezuela, Haiti and other regions, generating new challenges in terms of labor integration and access to labor rights.
Migrant employment: they assure that it is necessary to implement inclusive policies for the protection of workers
The ILO study highlights the need to implement inclusive public policies that promote the protection of migrant workerswith special attention to women and young people. Likewise, the importance of improving working conditions in the sectors of greatest demand is highlighted, especially in domestic and care work, where migrant women predominate.
In conclusion, migrant workers play a crucial role in the global and regional economy. However, it is essential to address structural barriers and guarantee social justice so that the benefits of migration are reflected in more equitable and inclusive working conditions.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
