The alarming figures of migration in Colombia: strata 1, 2 and 3 migrate for lack of opportunities and strata 4, 5 and 6 for fear of the political situation
The reduced generation of jobs in the country has pushed up migration in Colombia. As the main source of wealth and value generation, the outflow of working-age Colombians is a latent concern.
According to the survey conducted by AppInvamer, which inquired whether Colombians have considered or are considering leaving Colombia, an alarming 49.1% answered in the affirmative.
Among the population that is most contemplating migration are young people between 18 and 24 years of age. In this group, 84% stated that they have considered or are in the process of doing so, according to the same entity.
These data suggest a concern about the future in Colombia and a willingness on the part of Colombians, especially young people, to explore options outside the country in search of better living conditions, job opportunities or personal development. This, despite the difficulties involved in becoming familiar with a new culture and adapting in countries where migrants are not always well valued.
Why has migration increased in Colombia?
Migration in Colombia has become a major issue in recent years, revealing a crisis situation in the country. According to data provided by the Conflict Analysis Resource Center (CERAC), last year reached the historic figure of 547,000 Colombians who migrated, which is 2.7 times the annual average since 2012.
The growing migration wave reflects the lack of job opportunities as the main motivation for emigrating (54%), followed by the high cost of living (38%), fear of the country’s political situation (32%) and security issues (29%), explained Martín Orozco, manager of AppInvamer.
The survey results also revealed that the two regions with the highest percentage of migration are Bogota (54%) and the Coast (53%), exceeding the national average.
Migration in Colombia is mainly due to the lack of job opportunities and persistent economic inequality in the country. Many Colombians yearn for better salaries and professional development abroad, in addition to seeking a better quality of life and escaping poverty, as they do not have access to basic resources and services in Colombia.
According to information from the Bureau of Customs and Border Patrol, the month of June saw a decrease in Colombian migration to the United States, with 5,383 Colombians apprehended. This figure is significantly lower than the 13,472 cases recorded in May of this year.
The reduction reflects the context of a tightening of anti-immigration measures in the United States. Crossing the border has become increasingly difficult for Colombian migrants and other nationalities, so other routes and destinations have gained strength.
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So far in 2023, more than 200,000 migrants have crossed the challenging Darien jungle, despite the fact that this migratory route is extremely risky due to the dense jungle, difficult terrain and lack of adequate infrastructure. Of these, 6,484 are Colombians, according to data from Migration Panama.
Destinations and reasons behind migration in Colombia
According to AppInvamer, “as the socioeconomic level increases, a higher percentage of Colombians are considering migrating”. For example, in strata 1 and 2, 48% of respondents said they have thought or are thinking of leaving the country, while in strata 4, 5 and 6, this figure rises to 57%.
For strata 1, 2 and 3, the lack of opportunities stands out as the main reason for considering migration, while in strata 4, 5 and 6, where people who generate employment are found, fear of the country’s political situation emerges as the main motivation.
The main migration destinations for Colombians are the United States, with 27%; Canada, with 19%; Spain, with 16%; and Australia with 9%. These data reveal that a significant part of the country’s productive force is migrating to developed nations.
Challenges of mass migration for Colombia
The excessive migration of Colombians of productive and reproductive age raises relevant concerns, such as the drain of talent and knowledge, the aging of the population, the loss of resources for the development of the productive apparatus and social disconnection.
Paradoxically, Colombia is losing citizens due to the precarious conditions of productive development, while, at the same time, the Global Compact for Migration policy has assigned the country important responsibilities in migratory matters.
As a result, Colombia has become, according to the Cancillería, the destination with the largest flow of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in the world, with a total of 2.48 million people, according to official figures.
Remittances, a positive trend for Colombia?
Remittances sent by Colombians abroad play a crucial role in alleviating poverty, preventing it from becoming even more severe. Millions of people are forced to work abroad due to the lack of job opportunities in the country.
For example, in 2021, remittances were consolidated as a significant source of foreign exchange, reaching US$8.5 billion, a figure almost equal to the sale of oil and its derivatives, which amounted to US$8.7 billion.
According to a ranking prepared by WorldRemit, a company specialized in digital payments, the country ranks fourth, with a total amount of US$9.429 billion between 2021 and 2022.
The analysis highlights that most remittances come mainly from the United States, Spain and Canada, which evidences the importance of these countries as main sources of remittances to Colombia.
In summary, remittances are almost as important as revenues from oil sales and compete in terms of relevance with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
This implies that remittances represent a significant source of income for the country and have an important impact on the economy, as do oil and foreign direct investment.
According to Banco de la República, it is estimated that in 2021 the three million Colombians living abroad contributed US$8,597 million in remittances.
These remittances are equivalent to the income generated by our main export product. Colombians abroad have managed to establish a significant source of income that helps mitigate the negative current account deficit caused by imports and, at the same time, partially make up for the lack of income in Colombian households due to the precarious situation of the labor market.
You may have seen the YouTube commercial of a nice man with a successful appearance, promoting legal migration to the United States. However, this reflects the loss of labor force for the country, which does not provide the right conditions for people to develop their skills for the benefit of the nation.
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