Migration Governance Insights Data-driven Perspectives to Enhance Labour Migration Pathways - Executive Summary (2025)-HC=1.pdf

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

MGI

MIGRATION GOVERNANCE INSIGHTS:

Data-driven Perspectives to Enhance Labour Migration Pathways Labour migration is a key driver of global economic growth. Migrants fill critical labour and skills shortages, sustain essential industries, and contribute to development through remittances and knowledge exchange. Yet, the contributions of labour migration depend on how effectively it is governed: well-designed pathways can facilitate safe and orderly labour mobility, while gaps in governance may lead to skills mismatches, underemployment and vulnerabilities for migrant workers.

This raises key questions: What approaches do countries take to manage labour migration? How can policies amplify their benefits while addressing emerging challenges? What role do policy enablers and implementation mechanisms play in translating regular pathways into practice?

This report – the third installment in the Migration Governance Insights series – offers IOM’s first globally comparative assessment of how countries govern labour migration. Drawing on data from the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI), IOM’s flagship initiative on migration governance, the report analyses how 110 countries and 96 local jurisdictions regulate labour migration through structured legal, policy and regulatory frameworks established by States at the national, bilateral, regional and global levels. Aimed at policymakers and practitioners, the report distills lessons from over 60 policy examples and integrates empirical findings to support discussions on labour policy coherence, strengthen labour migration outcomes and position mobility as a lever for sustainable economic development. Figure 1. Structure of the reportLabour migration governance is broad and multifaceted. In addition to examining regular pathways for labour migration, established through national policies and international cooperation, the report zooms in on three key components of effective governance: skills recognition and labour market integration, protecting migrant workers’ rights and a data-driven approach to labour migration governance. These represent implementation mechanisms and policy enablers that help operationalize regular pathways for labour mobility.

1. Structured and coherent national policies

3. Skills recognition and labour market integration

4. Protecting migrant worker’s rights

5. A data-driven approach to labour migration governance

mechanisms and policy enablers that help operationalize regular pathways for labour mobility.

1. Structured and coherent national policies

3. Skills recognition and labour market integration

4. Protecting migrant worker’s rights

5. A data-driven approach to labour migration governance

2. International cooperation frameworks

Regular Pathways for Labour Migration Selected implementation mechanisms and policy

enablersMIGRATION GOVERNANCE INSIGHTS:

Data-driven Perspectives to Enhance Labour Migration Pathways EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 Making labour migration work across borders: Sustainable and effective frameworks for international cooperation Cross-border cooperation amplifies national efforts International cooperation complements national frameworks. Through global standards, regional agreements and bilateral partnerships, States manage migration in ways that are predictable, rights based and development oriented. Regional agreements are a key tool to support labour mobility • Nearly two thirds of MGI-assessed countries (62%) participate in regional frameworks that facilitate cross-border labour mobility. • These agreements often include provisions for skills recognition, social security portability, visa waivers and access to labour rights. Strong institutions support labour agreements • On average, bilateral labour migration agreements are more often found in MGI-assessed countries with dedicated institutions to coordinate the design and implementation of migration policy (88% versus 72%). Addressing labour market needs through mobility: Evidence on structured and coherent national policies Barriers continue to limit migrant workers’ potential Many migrants face high entry thresholds, gaps in skills recognition, and legal uncertainty that restrict access to decent work and hinder integration. Even when employed, protection is often limited. Labour policy coherence matters Labour migration policies work best when embedded in a structured and coherent system – with clearly defined pathways, different permit types by skill or sector, and transparent selection criteria. Migration strategies are the foundation of structured labour migration systems National migration strategies help consolidate permit types, clarify entry pathways and improve coordination across institutions. • On average, structured systems for managing labour immigration are more often found in MGI-assessed countries with a national migration strategy embedded in a programmatic document (29% versus 13%).

Migration strategies are the foundation of structured labour migration systems National migration strategies help consolidate permit types, clarify entry pathways and improve coordination across institutions. • On average, structured systems for managing labour immigration are more often found in MGI-assessed countries with a national migration strategy embedded in a programmatic document (29% versus 13%). • This trend is even more pronounced among primarily destination countries (50% versus 20%). Well-regulated systems support stronger business environments Regular labour migration pathways are more effective when embedded in coherent policy frameworks and supported by well-coordinated institutions, pointing to a positive link between structured governance and more favourable conditions for investment. • The World Economic Forum Business Environment Score ranges from 1 (worst) to 7 (best) and captures business executives’ perceptions of policy stability and objective indicators, such as property rights, rule of law and openness to trade. • On average, MGI-assessed countries with structured systems to manage labour immigration score higher on the Business Environment Score (4.42 versus 3.77). • This relationship holds even among high-income and upper-middle-income countries (4.55 versus 4.07) and among countries with a high share of international migrant workers (4.93 versus 4.09). MGI

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1MIGRATION GOVERNANCE INSIGHTS:

Data-driven Perspectives to Enhance Labour Migration Pathways EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 Protecting migrant workers’ rights: Creating the conditions for migrants to thrive Accessible and up-to-date information empowers migrant workers Clear, user-friendly information on rights, procedures and support services is essential for informed decision-making. Local governments in both origin and destination countries play a key role in improving access through tools, such as migrant resource centres, orientation programmes and local service hubs. Migrant workers should be protected throughout the entire migration continuum Comprehensive protection requires safeguards from recruitment to employment and beyond, yet significant gaps remain.

governments in both origin and destination countries play a key role in improving access through tools, such as migrant resource centres, orientation programmes and local service hubs. Migrant workers should be protected throughout the entire migration continuum Comprehensive protection requires safeguards from recruitment to employment and beyond, yet significant gaps remain. • Less than one third of MGI-assessed countries (32%) have measures in place to promote the ethical recruitment of migrant workers. • Only 40 per cent have specific policies to combat migrant labour exploitation. Social protection remains a critical gap in migrant inclusion • Extending social protection to migrant workers reduces vulnerability, supports economic stability and strengthens social cohesion. • Only 27 per cent of MGI-assessed countries provide all regular migrants with equal access to social protection as nationals, highlighting one of the most persistent challenges in labour migration governance. MGI

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MGI EMPIRICAL FINDING Getting more out of labour mobility: Skills recognition and labour market integration Recognition of prior learning (RPL) improves access to the labour market and improves skills-matching RPL enables migrants to demonstrate skills acquired outside formal education systems. When effectively implemented, it helps reduce underemployment and improves the alignment between migrant skills and labour market needs. Skills mobility partnerships (SMPs) link training, skills development and recognition with jobs at home and abroad SMPs align skills development and recognition, including RPL, with labour market needs in both origin and destination countries. By linking governments, training providers and employers, SMPs support better prepared migration and contribute to more sustainable development outcomes for all parties involved. Support for student-to-work transitions: a missed opportunity • Only 20 per cent of MGI-assessed countries allow international students to work during their studies and also have policies supporting their transition into the labour market. Student integration policies correlate with higher-skilled migration Coherent labour migration governance connects education and labour policy frameworks to support a more skilled and adaptable migrant workforce while also fostering long-term integration and social cohesion. • On average, MGI-assessed countries that facilitate the labour market integration of international students – by allowing them to work during their studies and establishing post-graduation employment

Coherent labour migration governance connects education and labour policy frameworks to support a more skilled and adaptable migrant workforce while also fostering long-term integration and social cohesion. • On average, MGI-assessed countries that facilitate the labour market integration of international students – by allowing them to work during their studies and establishing post-graduation employment pathways – have a higher share of tertiary-educated migrants (29.69% versus 18.15%). • This relationship holds even among high-income and upper-middle-income countries (31.94% versus 21.61%) and countries with a high share of internationally mobile students (31.34% versus 20.03%). MGI

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4MIGRATION GOVERNANCE INSIGHTS:

Data-driven Perspectives to Enhance Labour Migration Pathways EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4

Bridging evidence and policy: A data-driven approach to labour migration governance Innovative data sources are enhancing labour migration insights While traditional tools remain essential, countries are increasingly using web scraping of online job postings and social media analytics to generate timely insights on labour mobility, recruitment trends and emerging skill needs, helping improve the responsiveness of migration policies.

Accurate and timely information on labour market demand remains limited Effective labour migration governance depends on timely data about high-demand occupations and productivity trends, yet monitoring remains limited. • Only 17 per cent of MGI-assessed countries conduct regular assessments to monitor labour market demand for migrant workers, limiting their ability to design responsive, evidence-based policies. Evaluation is a critical component of the labour migration policy cycle Embedding evaluation from the outset allows labour migration programmes to be continuously assessed, improved and adapted. Early integration supports clearer objectives, stronger accountability and long-term impact. Turning data into action requires government ownership Evaluation findings are more likely to shape meaningful changes when governments are engaged from the beginning. T ools like the MGI foster national ownership through participatory processes that connect technical assessments to practical decision-making. Figure 2. Alignment of Migration Governance Insights series with the IOM Strategic Plan 2024–2028 MGI

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like the MGI foster national ownership through participatory processes that connect technical assessments to practical decision-making. Figure 2. Alignment of Migration Governance Insights series with the IOM Strategic Plan 2024–2028 MGI EMPIRICAL FINDING F acilit ating path wa ys f or r egular migration

OB JECTIVE 3

Driving solutions to displacement

OB JECTIVE 2

Sa ving liv es and pr otec ting people on the move

OB JECTIVE 1

Pathways for education Pathways for labour Pathways for family Pathways due to humanitarian reasons MIGRA TION GO VERNANCE INSIGHTS Inf orming P eople - centr ed Migration P olicies MGI MGI MIGR A TIO N G O VERNA N CE I N SIGHTS ON REGUL A R P A THW A Y S D e l i v ering on the P r o mise o f Migrati o n MGI

M IGRA TION G O VER N A NCE IN SIGHT S:

Data-driven Perspectives to Enhance Labour Migration Pathways

I. People-centred

Migration Policies

II. Regular Migration

Pathways

III. Labour Migration Pathways This report is the third installment in the Migration Governance Insights series, developed to inform evidencebased policymaking using data from the IOM MGI. The first report, Informing People-centred Migration Policies, published in 2024, aligns with the IOM Strategic Plan 2024–2028 by examining how governance approaches contribute to the operationalization of its three objectives. The second, Migration Governance Insights on Regular Migration Pathways, published in the same year, narrows the focus to Objective 3, analysing regular pathways by purpose – labour, education, family and humanitarian – and how these are supported by different stakeholders.

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