Millions more migrant workers, means countries lose ‘most productive part’ of workforce

According to the second edition of ILO’s Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers, approximately 164 million people left home in search of work between 2013 and 2017 – a nine per cent increase since 2013, when that number stood at 150 million.

Breaking down the figures, 96 million are men, a rise of two per cent, while 68 million are women, a fall of 2 per cent compared to 2013. 

“While growing numbers of women have been migrating autonomously in search of employment in the past two decades, the discrimination they often face because of their gender and nationality, reduces their employment opportunities in destination countries compared to their male peers,” said Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO Conditions of Work and Equality Department. Nearly 87 per cent of migrant workers are between the ages of 25 and 64, suggesting that some countries of origin are losing the most productive segment of their workforce, which could negatively impact their economic growth. 

https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2018/12/1027651