Syllabus :GS2/IR/GS 3/Economy
In News
- Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers report released by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Major Findings
- Labor Force : : In 2022, international migrants made up 4.7% of the global labor force, totaling 167.7 million, an increase of over 30 million since 2013.
- Of the 167.7 million migrants, 102.7 million were men and 64.9 million were women.
- Regional Trends: :Europe and Central Asia hosted 34.5% of migrant workers (57.8 million).
- The share of migrants in Northern, Southern, and Western Europe increased from 22.5% in 2013 to 23.3% in 2022, while other regions saw slight declines.
- More than 68% of migrants were in high-income countries, primarily in Northern, Southern, and Western Europe; North America; and the Arab States.
- Sector Employment: 68.4% of migrant workers were employed in the services sector, particularly in care and domestic work, with 30% of migrant women and 12.4% of migrant men in this sector.
- Comparisons to Non-Migrants: 19.2% of non-migrant women and 6.2% of non-migrant men were employed in care and domestic work.
Issues and Concerns
- Higher Unemployment Rates: Migrants faced a higher unemployment rate (7.2%) than non-migrants (5.2%), with women more affected.
- Gender Disparities in Employment: Migrant women had an employment-to-population ratio of 48.1%, compared to 73% for migrant men.
- Barriers to Employment: Gender disparities may be driven by factors like language barriers, unrecognized qualifications, discrimination, limited childcare options, and gender-based expectations.
Suggestions
- Migrant workers are crucial in addressing global labour shortages and contributing to economic growth.
- Protecting their rights and ensuring access to decent work is both a moral and economic necessity.
- The report calls for targeted policies to improve access to decent work and protect migrant workers.
- Ensuring equitable access to employment opportunities is vital for sustainable development and inclusive labour markets.
Source: TH