An Analytical Overview of the Migrant Labor Market

The migrant labor market continues to contribute to the economic growth in both developing and developed regions. Jon Purizhansky, the founder of Joblio.co, points out that the important role played by migrant laborers in the international economy, many companies, governments, and international organizations lack information about the industries that these workers contribute to. Additionally, the origin points of many migrant laborers and the unique issues they face in the workplace are seldom understood by the businesses and ecosystems, which benefit from their presence.

This international labor market analysis explores the origins and destinations of migrant laborers in the contemporary marketplace. It also illustrates which economic sectors are dependent upon migrant labor for continued growth, and discusses why policy makers and business leaders must dedicate additional attention and resources toward migrant labor communities.

Migrant Labor Continues To Rise

Jon Purizhansky says that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted immigration patterns and disrupted both domestic and international supply lines of goods and labor. Nevertheless, recent years have demonstrated that the number of labor migrants continues to rise around the world, a pattern that can be expected to continue as the pandemic recedes in the wake of a global vaccination effort. Jon Purizhansky also points to the 2020 World Migration Report issued by the United Nations, which indicates that there are approximately 272 million international labor migrants

This represents a serious increase from the approximate figure of 150 million migrant laborers that the International Labor Organization provided in 2013. As the global economy continues to recover from pandemic-induced recessions, labor migration will continue to rise as workers seek better wages and working conditions abroad. Nevertheless, pandemic-related travel restrictions will likely frustrate migrant laborers and their employers in the immediate future.

The Impact of COVID-19

Despite the increase in migrant laborers over the past few years, organizations which depend upon international data pertaining to migrant laborers must understand that COVID-19 will lead to serious disruptions in migrant data collection and analysis efforts for years. Jon Purizhansky mentions that assessments of migrant labor growth must account for pandemic-induced travel restrictions and job loss. Immediate shocks to the international economy have already been detected due to labor shortages which have arisen because of the pandemic.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, for instance, agricultural value chains and food supply systems have been impacted by restrictions on international movement. A recent report from the FAO notes that a dramatic reduction in economic remittances sent from migrant laborers in agricultural sectors to their home countries can be expected. It also identifies disruptions to the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural goods that are a result of migrant labor shortages.

Changing Destination Points

The pandemic may also lead to shifts in the origin and destination countries of the migrant labor market. Joblio.co founder Jon Purizhansky once noted that “global migration is a topic that impacts hundreds of millions of people around the world.” The impact of global labor migration is often felt more seriously in certain states than others; an ILO report concludes that three subregions alone (North America, Northern/Southern/Western Europe, and the Arab States) account for nearly 61% of the migrant labor population.

Given the disparate vaccination rate of these and other global subregions, migrant labor may flow to different destination countries in the near-future. Alternatively, regions which currently possess both a larger than average share of migrant laborers and better access to vaccines may further their advantage in the international migrant labor market. Regions such as Northern Africa, which currently hosts less than 1% of the migrant labor population, may struggle to attract more immigrants as a result of the pandemic.

Expanding Migrant Opportunities With Joblio

Despite the challenges facing the migrant labor market, companies like Joblio are working to expand the opportunities made available to international laborers. By connecting workers directly to employers through cutting-edge technology, Joblio bypasses inefficient middlemen and streamlines the immigration process. As global labor markets reel in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, apps like Joblio will prove essential for the further development of economic sectors that depend upon migrant laborers.

To ensure ethical recruitment, Purizhansky notes that “all applicants will undergo a medical examination 48 hours prior to arrival, including COVID-19 tests.” By prioritizing the health and wellbeing of workers, Joblio is ensuring that global health crises have a minimal impact on the international labor market. The migrant labor market may be experiencing growing pains, but services like Joblio are ensuring a healthy maturation of this critical economic sector.