International Migrants: A Vital Force in Global Labour Market, Says UN
— December 17, 2024
UNITED NATIONS (AIA) International migrants accounted for 4.7 per cent of the global labour force in 2022, highlighting their crucial contribution to the world economy, according to a new report from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The ILO Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers revealed that 167.7 million migrants were active in the labour force of their destination countries in 2022, an increase of over 30 million since 2013. Of these, 102.7 million were men, and 64.9 million were women.
The report noted that high-income countries attracted the majority of migrant workers, with more than 68 per cent concentrated in regions such as Northern, Southern, and Western Europe; North America; and the Arab States. The share of migrants in Northern, Southern, and Western Europe rose slightly from 22.5 per cent in 2013 to 23.3 per cent in 2022, while other regions saw marginal declines.
Persistent Gender Disparities
Despite their critical role, migrant women faced significant challenges. Their employment-to-population ratio was just 48.1 per cent, compared to nearly 73 per cent for migrant men. Additionally, the unemployment rate for migrants stood at 7.2 per cent, higher than the 5.2 per cent for non-migrants, with women again being disproportionately affected.
“This disparity may stem from language barriers, unrecognised qualifications, discrimination, limited childcare options, and gender-based expectations that restrict employment opportunities for women,” the ILO said.
Employment Patterns
The majority of migrant workers—68.4 per cent—were employed in the services sector, driven largely by global demand for care and domestic work. Nearly 30 per cent of migrant women and 12.4 per cent of men were employed in these roles, compared to 19.2 per cent of non-migrant women and 6.2 per cent of non-migrant men.