Countries need migrant workers across skill levels despite growing political opposition to immigration, Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration , told CNBC-TV18. She said employers in countries without a growing young population were struggling to recruit talent even as anti-immigration sentiment gained ground.“There is a tension between the political rhetoric and the realities on the ground across the board,” Pope said, pointing to demand for construction workers, manufacturers, doctors, engineers and technology professionals.

She said countries that recognise the importance of migration are working to establish safe and legal routes for workers, while ensuring they are paid fairly and can contribute to their host countries as well as their countries of origin. Why anti-immigration sentiment persistsPope said public concerns about irregular migration were one of the factors driving opposition to immigration. Large numbers of people entering countries through irregular routes can fuel the perception that governments have lost control of their borders.“When they see high numbers of people coming across the Mediterranean or a desert through irregular channels, it fuels a perception that the government does not have control of its most fundamental responsibility: managing its borders,” she said.

The response can be different when migrants arrive with visas and employment contracts to fill jobs needed by local communities, Pope said. The IOM works with governments and other stakeholders to facilitate legal migration.

It also prepares migrants for life in their destination countries by familiarising them with local cultures and everyday practices, which can help them integrate into their communities and improve public acceptance of migration. Businesses have an economic case for migrationPope said the private sector could play an important role in making the case for migration, particularly in countries where anti-immigration narratives have gained ground. She cited Guyana, where the economy has grown by 20% annually in recent years, as an example of a country struggling to find enough workers.

Countries across the Americas and Central Asia are also looking for people with different skills, she said. However, Pope stressed that employers must recruit workers ethically and pay them fairly. Migrants should be hired to address genuine labour shortages rather than be exploited by employers. Ensuring a level playing field would allow businesses to recruit the talent they need while protecting workers, she said. India’s diaspora is an untapped economic advantagePope said India could make greater use of its overseas diaspora to support investment and address skills shortages.

The Indian diaspora has remitted nearly $600 billion over the last five financial years, compared with foreign direct investment of around $400 billion. Pope said governments could do more to channel overseas communities’ links with their home countries into development. Some countries are setting up diaspora investment plans and funds, while also drawing on their diaspora to address training gaps. Doctors living abroad, for instance, can provide specialised training in hospitals, while diaspora networks can help young people find opportunities to work in other countries and acquire new skills.“So, we believe that the diaspora is an untapped competitive advantage for a country like India,” Pope said.