Chapter 1:3 - Rethinking Migration: Turning Challenges into Opportunities



Migration and mobility have always driven global opportunities, a trend evident throughout history. More recently, safe and dignified migration from countries like China, India, and the Philippines to Europe and America has significantly contributed to growth in receiving countries and the development of the migrants' home countries.

However, the irregular migration from Africa to Europe presents a different scenario. African youth are willing to risk their lives seeking economic opportunities due to critical unemployment levels at home. The United Nations projects that by 2050, a fourth of the world's population will be African, and perhaps even more relevant for this job discussion - a third of the world's young people (ages 15 to 24) will be African. Annually, 8 to 11 million African youth will enter the labor market, yet only about 3 million new formal wage jobs are expected to be created on the continent yearly.

Irregular migration from Africa to Europe is complex, dynamic, and fragmented. Recent data revealed that between January and December 2023, 40.000 migrants reached the Canary Islands irregularly from West African routes, up from 16.000 migrants the year before.

Europe's standard reaction has emphasized the need for stricter border control while negotiating with countries of origin to curb emigration by force. But with millions of youths excluded from the job market annually, do we believe this approach will effectively stop this from happening? It certainly doesn’t address the root causes of irregular migration.

We must seek to transform this challenge into an opportunity by discussing how to create new legal migration pathways. Why? you might say. By 2050, OECD member countries will need at least 400 million new workers to maintain current pension and health schemes. In other words, ensuring safe, orderly, and beneficial migration for origin and destination countries is crucial for Africa and Europe.

What if we addressed the European worker shortages by creating new flexible work visas for skilled African migrants? As part of the deal, the migrants should be paid fair wages while working in Europe, have the same tax obligations as everyone else, and help keep Europe on a growth trajectory. On top of this, they would likely use a big portion of their income to support 10-30 extended family members in their home country through remittances, thereby creating financial growth and development in their home markets. Remittances account for about 10% of GDP in the Philippines.

What if Europe collectively committed financial support to upskill hundreds of thousands of talented young Africans? Even if the top 50% sought jobs in Europe, a robust workforce would remain to strengthen their home countries. This initiative could be piloted in sectors like skilled labor, healthcare, or agriculture, all of which face significant labor shortages in Europe. By doing so, we would actively contribute to developing countries while mitigating brain drain, ensuring that talent is not solely drawn to richer nations, leaving developing regions at a disadvantage.

There could also be more job categories managed remotely from Africa for international clients. This could include tech, as we see today, or even high-end artisanal work. Talent is everywhere, and many jobs will not be replaced by robots or AI in the foreseeable future.

We need these essential discussions for a forward-looking migration policy in the European Union. Sending and receiving countries must agree on strict terms for issuing work visas, likely adopting common European legislation with stringent enforcement. We must also address the complex issue of the legal status of these migrants in Europe. This could involve following the UAE model, where temporary residency is closely tied to employment, or finding an alternative approach. There is much more to consider, but let's begin this conversation now for the future not only of Africa but also Europe.

I've spoken with some insightful individuals who have shaped my viewpoints. While I'm not holding anyone accountable for this write-up or any specific opinions expressed, I want to thank you all for your work in this field and for sharing your perspectives

Henrik Skovby , Barbara Rijks , Fred Swaniker , Tine Fisker Henriksen and Najat El Ouargui!