The Impacts of Migration
Geography: KS3, topic 14.1.7
Impacts of Migration
Migration has consequences for the source countries and the host countries.
Impact on countries of origin: Positive
- Unemployment may decrease.
- If the migrants return after a few years, they may bring money and skills back with them.
- There may be better life chances for young migrants.
Impact on countries of origin: Negative
- Economic hardship may come about because of the loss of young workers.
- Losing highly trained or skilled people, in particular health workers, can create problems for the countries of origin (brain drain).
- There may not be enough people left to farm the land (food shortage).
- Migration may cause social problems for children who are raised without parents.
Impact of migration on countries of destination: Positive
- Migration leads to greater cultural diversity (more cultures sharing a home).
- Economic growth (better standard of living) keeps going, even if the population is ageing.
- There is the advantage of “brain gain” (increase in highly trained foreign-born professionals).
- Job vacancies and skill gaps are removed.
- The pension gap can be solved by new workers paying taxes.
Impact of migration on countries of destination: Negative
- Lower wages may be offered.
- Migrants may be forced to do the DDD jobs (dirty, dangerous and degrading) to make a living.
- Public services like schools and hospitals may not be able to cope with the increase in population size.
- If migration cannot be controlled, unemployment may increase.
- There may be integration (mixing in), language or racism problems between the local people and the migrants.
Impact of migration on migrants: Positive
- There may be the opportunity of better pay for migrants.
- There may be a better choice of jobs.
- There may be better opportunities to improve skills, training or education.
- Migrants may be able to make sure that family members still living in the country of origin are looked after financially.
- Migrants may be able to learn new languages.
Impact of migration on migrants: Negative
- Migrants may suffer from loneliness or racist abuse.
- The journey for migrants is sometimes very expensive and very dangerous.
- Migrants may be forced to do the DDD jobs (dirty, dangerous and degrading) to make a living.
Test yourself on The Impacts of Migration
Which of the following are examples of the negative impacts of migration on the origin country?
Which of these is NOT a negative impact of migration on the country of destination?