Migration and the Labour Market Impacts of COVID-19

Using detailed microdata, this paper documents how migration-dependent households are especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
1 January 2021
Country:
Bangladesh and Nepal
Document Type:
Working Paper
Theme:
Economic Growth and Health
Authors:
Barker, N, Davis, C.A., Lopez-Pena, P, Mitchell, H and Mushfiq Mobarak, A

Abstract

Using detailed microdata, we document how migration-dependent households are especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. We create pre- and post-COVID panel datasets for three populations in Bangladesh and Nepal, leveraging experimental and observational variation in prior migration dependence. We report 25 per cent greater declines in earnings and fourfold greater prevalence of food insecurity among migrant households since March. Causes include lower migration rates, less remittance income per migrant, isolation in origin communities, and greater health risks. We compile a large set of secondary data to demonstrate the extent of vulnerability worldwide and conclude with recommendations for policy targeted at migrants.

This research is part of the Gender, Growth and Labour Markets in Low-Income Countries programme

Citation

Barker, N., Davis, C. A., López-Peña, P., Mitchell, H., Mushfiq Mobarak, A., Naguib, K., Reimão, M. E., Shenoy, A. and Vernot, C. (2021). “Migration and the Labour Market Impacts of COVID-19”. G2LM LIC Working Paper No. 54

Migration and the Labour Market Impacts of COVID-19

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Published 1 January 2021
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