Migration has always been central to shaping economies. People leave home for all kinds of reasons—better jobs, education, safety, or simply a shot at a new life. Wherever they are, they bring ideas, skills, and energy that help countries grow. Here’s how global migration continues to change economies around the world.
1. Boosts the Workforce and Closes Skill Gaps
According to the International Labour Organization, migrant workers have comprised over 90% of the total workforce at the global level. These laborers bolster a range of sectors, including construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and health care. They often take jobs that local workers either don’t want or can’t fill.
In mature, swim-up developed countries, migration is also a mechanism that enables aging populations and falling birth rates to maintain economic dependence. To wit, workers return home with new skills and experience that enable them to earn higher wages.
2. Fuels Growth Through Remittances and Global Exchange
Remittances sent around the world, meanwhile, reached more than $860 billion in 2023, the World Bank said. This money is often spent on food, education, or small businesses, and that makes families and communities stronger.
Apart from households, these money flows support local economies by boosting spending and investment. Returning migrants take back with them ideas, skills, and experience, which can help businesses grow.
3. Drives Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Immigrant-founded companies provide millions of jobs worldwide and are a significant source of innovation, the OECD says. Some of the world’s most successful technology companies were started by first- or second-generation immigrants, demonstrating that migration fosters innovation and entrepreneurship.
Diverse teams often perform better. Businesses with strong cultural and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to outperform the financial returns of their respective industry medians or thirds, as they leverage successful migration conversations to enhance creativity and competitiveness.
4. Tackles Challenges Through Fair Policies and Inclusion
Migration also presents challenges. Many migrants encounter discrimination, low-paying jobs, or restricted access to education and health services. Inadequate integration, the United Nations says, can damage migrants themselves and host nations too if not addressed.
Fair labor laws, nondiscriminatory policies, and access to training can mitigate these risks. Nations, employers, and communities that invest in inclusion benefit from the dividends of our strength.
5. Adapts to a Changing World
Technology, remote working, and climate change are reshaping global mobility. According to the International Monetary Fund, countries that respond successfully to such changes can maintain innovation and economic performance and thereby help ensure that migration continues to underpin the global economy.
The need for forward-looking policies that guide migration safely and fairly will be just as important in the future. When countries partner in good faith, they deliver opportunities for people and long-term economic benefits around the world.
Why Migration Will Always Matter
Migration is people moving beyond borders. Migration involves the movement of ideas, skills, hope, and inspiration. Every movement contributes something new to the global narrative. Well-managed migration fills labor gaps, fosters diversity, and enables economies to evolve.
