Labour migration (Part 1)
IT IS good to be with you all once again. This lesson and next week’s lesson will focus on migration and, in particular, the positive and negative effects of migration on the labour force.
However, before embarking on that task, it is fitting that we spend a little time looking at the concept of mobility of labour so that we do not confuse it with migration of labour.
MOBILITY OF LABOUR
Mobility of labour simply refers to the MOVEMENT of labour. If labour moves easily, it is said to be MOBILE. If, however, it is not easily moved, it is said to be IMMOBILE. There are two types of labour mobility: GEOGRAPHICAL MOBILITY of labour and OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY of labour. Geographical mobility of labour considers labour’s movement from place to place, like from one geographical location to another. If labour moves easily geographically, it is said to be geographically mobile. If labour has difficulty moving in the geographical sense, it is said to be immobile geographically. Occupational mobility, on the other hand, considers the movement of labour from one occupation or form of employment to another. Specialized labour does not move easily and is, therefore, said to be occupationally immobile. The less specialized the labour is, the easier it will move from one employment to another; it will be more mobile.
MIGRATION OF LABOUR
Many of you are aware of the massive labour migration that took place from the West Indies, especially the English-speaking Caribbean – from the early 1950s – to Britain, USA and Canada.
When labour moves geographically, this movement may or may not be permanent. However, migration is the PERMANENT movement of people from one area to another within a country (INTERNAL MIGRATION) or from one country to another (EXTERNAL MIGRATION) for at least ONE YEAR. When a person leaves a country, he/she is referred to as an EMIGRANT. When he/she arrives in the other country, he/she is referred to as an IMMIGRANT. Internal migration may be from rural to urban areas (urban drift), and from urban to rural areas, the former being the most popular. External migration is mostly from less developed countries to more developed countries. Persons move between countries, for example, between Jamaica and the USA or Canada. Remember, though, that we are talking about permanent movements (movements for at least one year).
Why do people migrate? I will now discuss some of the reasons for labour migration. Some of the points apply to internal migration, some to external migration and some to both internal and external migration. As I go through the points, see if you can make the correct applications.
PEOPLE MIGRATE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
1. They may be unemployed and migration promises them employment.
2. While they may be employed, migration may mean the opportunity to secure better and higher-paying jobs, resulting in higher standards of living.
3. Some migrate because of the attraction of town life, especially in the area of entertainment.
4. Many migrate for educational reasons in keeping with the desire to improve their education and skills. Often, the opportunities where they live are limited or in some fields non-existent. Also, the quality of education and training in other places may be higher than where they live.
5. Migration is the choice of some in order to obtain a secure, new home or more living space, especially as their families grow in size.
6. A number of persons migrate for health reasons, often on a doctor’s recommendation. For example, as persons age, a cold climate may not be conducive to keeping healthy. Doctors may suggest a move to a warmer climate. Similarly, certain medical treatment that is needed on a regular basis may not be readily available where one lives and this may be a reason for migration.
7. Some persons migrate in order to take care of relatives or to be reunited with family members from whom they have been separated for extended periods.
8. The increase in rural population and the poor state of agriculture may cause migration.
9. Some rural areas are ‘depressed’ and so people will move from these areas to thriving industrial areas and to towns and cities.
10. A number of persons migrate in order to escape the political and economic pressures that are heaped upon them in their present locations.
Migration to the Caribbean came after the abolition of slavery. Many Indian and Chinese workers came to work on the plantations.
What, though, are the EFFECTS OF MIGRATION? This will be the topic of discussion for next week. In preparation for that lesson, you may like to make a list of the effects – negative and positive – of internal and then external migration, especially on the labour force. You will be greatly assisted by doing some research. Take care until it is time for our next lesson.