International Migrants Represent 4.7% of Global Workforce: ILO

International migrants made up 4.7% of the global labor force in 2022, highlighting their significant role in driving economic growth, according to the latest report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The report, Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers, reveals that 167.7 million migrants were part of the workforce in their destination countries in 2022. This figure marks an increase of over 30 million compared to 2013.

Most of these migrants were employed in high-income countries, which accounted for 68.4% of the total migrant workforce, or 114.7 million people. Upper-middle-income countries employed 17.4%, or 29.2 million migrants. The report also highlights that labor force participation is particularly concentrated in regions such as Northern, Southern, and Western Europe, Northern America, and the Arab States. In the United States alone, there are 12.0 million Mexican migrants, with 4.1 million of them being undocumented. Of this group, 52.6% are men and 47.4% are women, as reported by BBVA.

"Migrant workers are indispensable in addressing global labor shortages and contributing to economic growth. Ensuring their rights and access to decent work is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity," says Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director General, ILO.

However, despite this concentration, the gender gap remains a notable challenge. Of the 167.7 million migrants in the labor force, 155.6 million were employed, while 12.1 million were unemployed. However, migrant women faced a significantly lower employment-to-population ratio of 48.1%, compared to 72.8% for migrant men. Migrants, in general, faced a higher unemployment rate of 7.2% compared to 5.2% for non-migrants. The disparity was more pronounced for migrant women, who had an unemployment rate of 8.7%, compared to 6.2% for migrant men. The report points to barriers such as language challenges, unrecognized qualifications, discrimination, limited childcare options, and gender-based expectations that hinder migrant women's employment opportunities.

The ILO report emphasizes the importance of targeted policies to support international migrants, particularly in high-demand sectors such as services and care. The report advocates for improved access to decent work opportunities and enhanced protections for migrant workers, recognizing that these workers are vital to addressing global labor shortages and promoting economic growth.

To fully capitalize on the contributions of migrant workers, the report urges policymakers to prioritize inclusive labor markets and sustainable development through better access to employment opportunities for migrants.