4th Edition of “International Migrant Workers” Report

January 21, 2025

Recently, the International Labour Organization (ILO) released its fourth edition of ‘Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers’. The report brought into light the role of international migrants (IMs) in both the global labour market and economic growth. Despite challenges such as the pandemic, the number of IMs has increased, contributing to host nations and their home countries through remittances.

Global Labour Force Statistics

In 2022, IMs constituted 4.7% of the global labour force, totalling 167.7 million. This included 155.6 million employed and 12.1 million unemployed. The growth rate from 2019 to 2022 was less than 1% annually, influenced by various factors including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gender Disparities

The employment rates for IMs showed disparities between genders. In 2022, 61.3% of male IMs were employed, compared to 38.7% of female IMs. Female IMs have steadily increased since 2015, but their representation remains lower due to fewer women in the overall IM population.

Age Distribution

Prime-age adults (25-54 years) made up 74.9% of IM workers in 2022. Young IMs (15-24 years) accounted for 9.3%, while those aged 55-64 and above 65 represented 12.5% and 3.4%, respectively. This age distribution reflects the workforce dynamics among IMs.

Sector Employment

The services sector employed 68.4% of IMs, with women holding 80.7% of these positions. Comparatively, only 24.3% of IMs worked in industry and 7.4% in agriculture. The services sector’s dominance has been consistent over the past decade.

Host Countries

High-income countries hosted 68.4% of IMs, primarily in the services sector, particularly in care roles. Upper-middle-income countries accounted for 17.4%. Northern America saw a slight decrease in IM share, while the Arab states experienced a notable decline.

Future Trends

The demand for IMs in high-income countries is expected to persist due to ageing populations and the growing care economy. Economic opportunities will continue to attract IMs, shaping future labour market dynamics globally.

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