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IOM Chief Amy Pope Highlights Disconnect Between Labor Needs and Anti-Immigration Politics
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CNBC TV18•16-10-2026, 20:08
IOM Chief Amy Pope Highlights Disconnect Between Labor Needs and Anti-Immigration Politics
- •Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, stated that countries urgently need migrant workers across all skill levels despite rising political opposition.
- •Employers in aging nations face severe talent shortages in sectors like construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology.
- •Public concerns over irregular migration and border control are major drivers behind the persistence of anti-immigration sentiments globally.
- •The private sector must make a strong economic case for ethical recruitment, fair wages, and filling genuine labor shortages.
- •India's overseas diaspora represents a massive untapped economic advantage, having remitted nearly 600 billion dollars over the last five financial years.
Key Questions Answered
International Organization for Migration chief Amy Pope explained that while countries across all skill levels urgently need migrant workers to fill job shortages, growing political opposition and anti-immigration sentiment continue to gain ground.
Large numbers of people entering through irregular channels create a public perception that governments have lost control of border management, which is a fundamental responsibility.
The Indian diaspora remitted nearly $600 billion over the past five financial years, outperforming foreign direct investment, and can help channel investments, fund development, and provide specialized training.
