Why do people migrate?

Why do people migrate?
• Jamaica Gleaner
• 29 Mar 2016
• MAUREEN CAMPBELL Contributor

1. Why do people migrate?
 Jamaica Gleaner
 29 Mar 2016
 MAUREEN CAMPBELL Contributor

MIGRATION has become deeply embedded in the minds of Caribbean peoples
over the last century and a half.
Migration of human beings takes into consideration the movements of people
from one area to another. People migrate between rural and urban areas,
between countries and the region, and between the region and the wider world.

People migrate for many different reasons. These reasons can be classified as
economic, social, political or environmental:

ECONOMIC MIGRATION
Moving to find work, follow a particular career path, access to food, need for
modern infrastructure, low wages.

SOCIAL MIGRATION
Moving somewhere for a better quality of life, to be closer to family or friends,
social and cultural amenities and facilities, and educational opportunities

POLITICAL MIGRATION
Moving to escape political persecution, war, crime and violence

2. ENVIRONMENTAL
Environmental causes of migration include natural disasters, such as flooding.
It must be noted that some people are forced to migrate, e.g., those who move
due to war or famine, such as refugees or individuals seeking asylum. A refugee
is someone who has left his home and seeks somewhere to settle in comfort and
freedom from fear.

TERMS USED TO EXPLAIN MOVEMENTS OF THE POPULATION

Push factors: These are the reasons people leave an area which include a lack
of services, lack of safety, high crime, crop failure, drought, flooding, poverty,
war and so on.

Pull factors: Reasons people move to a particular area, including higher
employment rate, more wealth, better services, good climate, safer environment,
less crime, political stability, more fertile land, lower risk from natural hazards,
and so on.
Migration usually happens as a result of a combination of these push and pull
factors.

RURAL AND URBAN MIGRATION
One noticeable issue in the society today is the rate at which people migrate
from the rural to the urban areas. One of the factors responsible for rural-to-
urban migration is the lack of or inadequate social amenities and facilities in the
rural areas. These include piped water, electricity, good roads, hospitals,
schools, recreational centres, and so on. Inadequate and varied jobs in the rural
areas also cause many youths to migrate to the urban areas, in the hope of
finding better opportunities for themselves.

Rural-to-urban migration has negative consequences. It leads to overpopulation
of the urban areas, thus encouraging crime in the society. Rural-to-urban
migration also slows down the rate of development of the rural areas.

CONSEQUENCES OF MIGRATION

A) To the host/country of destination (place to which people migrate)

3. POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES OF MIGRATION TO THE
COUNTRY/INDIVIDUAL
 New skills are introduced by the immigrant.
 New cultures are introduced and integrated in the society.
 The labour force may be more equipped, skilled and will increase
competition for jobs, which will satisfy employees.

NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF MIGRATION TO THE
COUNTRY/INDIVIDUAL.
 Exploitation of workers via underemployment and poor-paying jobs, with
poor working conditions.
 Open violence against the newly arrived, who do not wish to integrate or
who have not been accepted by other individuals at the destination.
 Great stress is placed on the resources and social services of the country
as more individuals ‘fight’ for the little that is there.

B) On the Country of origin

POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES OF MIGRATION TO THE
COUNTRY/INDIVIDUAL.
 Provides a temporary solution to unemployment problems as people
vacate jobs so others can fill the vacancies.
 Contributes to foreign exchange, especially in the form of remittance to
relatives and friends.

NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF MIGRATION TO THE
COUNTRY/INDIVIDUAL.
 Further unemployment, as those who normally explore ventures migrate
for new enterprise and resources migrate.
 No investment, due to people with money leaving; those who are left
behind are unable to put forward capital and expertise needed for
increasing productivity.
 Brain drain, as those who are educated migrate to ‘greener pastures’.

ADDITIONAL CONSEQUENCES TO THE INDIVIDUAL

NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
 Discrimination faced in foreign lands.

4.  Inability to find a job as quickly as expected to look after themselves.
 Low-paying, non-status, poor-quality jobs are made available for
immigrants. Culture shock, as individuals find themselves unable to fit
into a new culture. Loneliness and separation from loved ones becomes a
reality.

POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES
 Employment opportunities for individuals.
 High-paying jobs which enable individuals to be able to look after loved
ones back in the country of origin.
 New opportunities may be available to migrants.
 Freedom, maybe from problems back home.

ACTIVITIES
1. Define the following terms: emigration, immigration, brain drain, remittance.
2. Suggest three reasons migration may be beneficial to a host country. Justify
your answers.
3. Suggest three reasons why migration may not be beneficial to the country of
origin. Justify your answer.
4. Identify three countries that Caribbean nationals tend to migrate to and
explain why people in the Caribbean would migrate to these destinations.