The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is asking on Caribbean nations to undertake a extra coordinated and strategic strategy to high-skilled migration, describing it as each a problem and a possible driver of sustainable improvement.
The decision got here throughout the latest Excessive-Expert Migration within the Caribbean Discussion board, hosted by the World Financial institution and PIOJ on the ROK Lodge in downtown Kingston. Talking on behalf of PIOJ Director Basic Dr. Wayne Henry, the company’s Director of Social Coverage, Planning and Analysis, Easton Williams, urged regional stakeholders to embrace new migration insurance policies that higher align with nationwide improvement targets.
Dr. Henry famous that the Caribbean has lengthy grappled with the emigration of tertiary-trained professionals, significantly to the US, the UK, and Canada. Citing latest information from a World Financial institution research, he highlighted that between 60% and over 80% of tertiary-educated people from English-speaking Caribbean nations now reside in OECD international locations — the very best price globally.
“This isn’t a brand new difficulty, however our responses have to date did not stem the tide,” mentioned Dr. Henry. “We should pivot to methods that flip this sample into an asset reasonably than a loss.”
He careworn the necessity for complete coverage frameworks that may harness the advantages of high-skilled migration by means of mechanisms like diaspora engagement, skills-sharing applications, and regional partnerships. Dr. Henry additionally warned that with out motion, the area dangers falling additional behind, significantly because it faces mounting demographic pressures.
– Commercial –
“The Caribbean is presently the quickest ageing area on the planet,” he mentioned. “With fertility charges beneath alternative stage and continued emigration, we’re seeing shrinking school-age and working-age populations. It will inevitably pressure our economies and social safety programs.”
He added that the ageing inhabitants — with individuals over 60 now the fastest-growing age group — provides urgency to the migration debate, as fewer employees shall be supporting a rising dependent inhabitants.
The discussion board additionally served because the regional launch for the World Financial institution’s research on high-skilled migration within the Caribbean, which provides data-driven insights and coverage choices for managing the outflow of expert labor.
Dr. Henry challenged attendees to make use of the findings to rethink how migration can gasoline innovation, resilience, and financial development within the Caribbean.
“The conversations and insurance policies we form at this time might mark a turning level in securing the way forward for our area,” he mentioned.
