Fact-Sheet on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on Migration in Asia-Pacific

A. Introduction Migration has become a structural element of many Asian economies and remittances are the most important source of foreign income for many South and South-East Asian countries of out-migration. The global economic crisis raised concern on a potential large-scale return of migrants and a decline in remittances. This fact sheet will outline key trends on the impact of the global economic crisis on migration in Asia and the Pacific based on information available to date. B. Key findings Although many migrants are affected by the crisis, it has not reversed the fundamental trend towards increased migration within the region. Numbers of return migrants are relatively low, compared to the overall number of labour migrants form the region. Most key countries of out-migration are reporting that migrant outflows to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are still continuing, although at a lower pace. Migration to East and South-East Asia has significantly slowed down. Job losses for migrants have mainly occurred in the electronics and automobile industries of East Asia, where also nationals of the respective countries have been affected by job losses.download