Migrants help economies to thrive. So why do they still generate fear?
Yesterday was International Migrants Day.
Quite rightly, the international headlines continued to focus on the stalled evacuation of civilians from Aleppo; and many of the events marking International Migrants Day renewed attention on the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe. And certainly there is a crisis – at least 4,000 people have drowned in the Mediterranean this year, a record high. Still, Europe’s crisis should not distract from a far greater refugee crisis unfolding in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia.
Neither should we forget the far greater number of people who have left their homes as migrants – almost 1 in every 33 people in the world today – moving largely in search of work. A significant proportion of these migrants are also vulnerable, such as those without legal status, the victims of migrant smuggling and human trafficking, and unaccompanied minors. And migrants have been insulted and derided by both electioneers and electorate in the UK and USA this year.
But this isn’t a competition for compassion.
International Migrants Day is instead intended to celebrate migration; and there is much to celebrate. In countries around the world, highly-skilled migrants continue to drive innovation and enterprise; and the less-skilled to fill critical shortages in the labour market. The evidence is clear that overall migrants employ more people than they put out of work; pay more into the welfare system than they take out; and create new markets for national industry. It is no wonder that almost every business leader willing to speak out opposed Brexit.
Read the full article on the World Economic Forum’s website.