PIOJ to conduct post-pandemic migration study
Published:Friday | September 20, 2024 | 12:12 AM
The Planning Institute of Jamaica, PIOJ, will oversee Jamaica’s first migration profile study since the pandemic.
The country suffers from brain drain, and the study is expected to offer “recommendations on strategic ways to govern the migration phenomenon,” PIOJ said in its tender for a consultant to do the study, the bid deadline for which was Thursday.
Nearly 26,000 Jamaicans relocated to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom in 2023, marking a 15 per cent increase year on year. Both Jamaican and US government data sources indicate that the numbers reflect the largest exodus since the pandemic.
The first migration profile was completed in 2010 and updated in 2018.
The world shifted with the COVID-19 pandemic and the study is expected to provide guidance on the alignment policy to meet those changes.
Just last month, Opposition Senator Damion Crawford criticised the government for allegedly facilitating the emigration of over 1,400 teachers annually to the US.
A former teacher who emigrated to the US during the pandemic told the Financial Gleaner that he and his family left Jamaica for “better pay” and living conditions.
“Four teachers from my arts and music department resigned at the same time to go overseas,” said the former teacher, who is now in his 40s. “It left the department with one teacher,” he said.
He spoke on condition of anonymity, as he still sees himself under the authority of his principal.
“I hope to come back one day,” he said, with half-hope.
The former teacher said he stayed away from US classroom, because he was not willing to take “lip” from the students, he perceives as being entitled. His wife, however, secured a teaching job, with her contract extended until 2026. While she was unavailable to comment, her husband noted that despite living in rural North Carolina, the cost of living isn’t much higher than in Jamaica, and her monthly salary is better—over J$600,000 equivalent, compared to around J$250,000 in Jamaica.
US immigration data shows that over 19,650 Jamaicans moved to the United States in 2023, up from 16,500 the previous year. The number of Jamaicans moving to Canada inched up to 4,340 and to 1,980 for the UK. The exodus is particularly notable among professionals, as teachers and nurses.
The PIOJ’s previous migration profile, covering the decade up to 2018, recommended a need for replacement labour, particularly from Asia. Such workers would fill the gaps left by the departing skilled workforce. The profile noted then that “emigration continues to be greatly in excess of immigration”, with the US remaining the top destination.
PIOJ did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new study.