The new report on worldwide immigration trends, which outlines the key factors impacting today’s global workforce, national and multinational companies and world economies, has revealed that restrictive immigration policies are easing as countries try to counter the effects of economic downturn.

Some countries are keeping pandemic-era restrictive immigration policies in place, but immigration services provider Fragomen reports that restrictive policies “in general have waned” and are in continued decline in its 2024 Worldwide Immigration Trends Report.

“It remains to be seen whether the results of key national elections around the world in 2024 bring about immigration policies to further alleviate worker and skills shortages, or if governments will instead choose to protect their domestic workforces,” the report said.

Fragomen’s report also highlights:

• Current demographic and skills mismatch presents challenges in the global competition for talent. Although many countries boast low unemployment rates, many job positions – some in crucial industries such as healthcare – are going unfilled at record levels due to several factors, including workers leaving and aging out of the workforce, fewer graduates to fill needed positions, lack of necessary tech skills and restrictive immigration policies.
• Governments are embracing digitalisation and innovating to stay ahead, but concerns surrounding AI remain. Digital transformation continues to pick up pace around the world. Governments are investing in sophisticated systems and focusing on the crucial step of interoperability of online systems among departments to increase efficiency and compliance. With increased adoption of AI in immigration processes, governments will also need to address the accompanying risks and ethical dilemmas.
• Formation of strategic partnerships between governments and universities could help reduce skills shortages. Despite a healthy post-pandemic bounce back in many labour markets, four out of five employers globally are reporting difficulties finding the skilled talent they need – a 17-year high. To combat these shortages, educational institutions must collaborate with governments on strategies to attract and maintain talent. Institutions that take an active role in helping employers and governments fill the talent gaps will likely also benefit by being seen as an attractive choice for international students.
• As more companies look to nearshoring, immigration practices will have to catch up. A number of countries already serve as major nearshoring destinations and as more companies look to this option to secure their supply chains against geopolitical events, governments will have to contend with many immigration implications and look to new initiatives to meet demand.

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