150.3 million migrants in global workforce: ILO

Migrant workers account for 150.3 million of the world`s approximately 232 million international migrants, according to a new study by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

A new ILO statistical study provided estimates on labour migration, including regions and industries where international migrant workers are established and a special focus on migrants in domestic work, according to a release received here on Thursday.

The report, ILO Global Estimates on Migrant Workers, showed migrant workers account for 72.7 per cent of the 206.6 million working age migrant population (15 years and over). The majority - 83.7 million - are men, with 66.6 million women migrant workers.

Commenting on the report, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said: "This analysis represents a significant contribution by the ILO in supporting member States to deliver the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in respect to targets within Goal 8 on protecting all workers, including migrant workers, and goal 10 on the implementation of well managed migration policies. Decision makers will now have real data on which to base their policies."

Labour migration is a phenomenon that concerns all regions of the world, however almost half (48.5 per cent) of migrant workers are concentrated in two broad regions: Northern America, and Northern, Southern and Western Europe. The Arab States have the highest proportion of migrant workers as a share of all workers with 35.6 per cent.

The study also examined the distribution of the migrant workforce in broad industry groupings. The vast majority of migrant workers are in the services sectors, with 106.8 million workers accounting for 71.1 percent of the total, followed by industry, including manufacturing and construction, with 26.7 million (17.8 percent) and agriculture with 16.7 million (11.1 per cent). Among all migrant workers, 7.7 per cent are domestic workers.

"This estimate study shows that the vast majority of migrants migrate in search of better job opportunities. By applying a robust methodology we believe it will add significantly to our knowledge base on migration and provide a strong foundation for the development of effective migration policies," said Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO`s Conditions of Work and Equality Department (WORKQUALITY).