Competition for workers increases as the population ages

The Bank has published its report “World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees and Communities”. The report noted that populations around the world are aging at unprecedented rates, making many countries increasingly dependent on immigration to meet their long-term growth potential.

The report affirmed that this trend is a unique opportunity to improve migration for economies and people, and affirmed that better migration policies can help increase well-being in all countries.

The report recalled that rich countries and a growing number of middle-income countries face declining populations, intensifying global competition for workers.

Noting that most low-income countries are expected to experience rapid population growth, the report stated that this situation puts these countries under pressure to create more jobs for young people.

2.5 PERCENT OF THE WORLD POPULATION LIVES OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY OF WHICH THEY ARE A CITIZEN

Noting that the proportion of working-age adults will fall dramatically in many countries in the coming years, the report claimed that countries like Mexico, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkey may need more foreign workers soon as their populations no longer increase. . .

The report noted that the forces driving migration have also changed, making cross-border mobility more diverse and complex. In the report, it was stated that the number of refugees has almost tripled in the last 10 years.

Claiming that climate change risks further driving migration, the report noted that most climate-related movements have so far taken place within countries, but about 40% of The world population (3.5 billion people) lives in places that are highly exposed to climate impacts.

In the report, it was stated that approximately 2.5 percent of the world’s population, or 184 million people, including 37 million refugees, live outside the country of their citizenship, and 43 percent of them live in developing countries.

Emphasizing the urgency of better migration management, the report stated that the goal of policy makers should be to strengthen the skills match of immigrants with the demand in destination societies while protect refugees. (AA)