On March 5, representatives from the World Bank presented the report titled The Road Ahead: Supporting Successful Migration in Europe and Central Asia. Experts have highlighted that skilled workers from Uzbekistan are not in high demand along traditional migration routes.
According to the World Bank, one in five of the country’s poorest residents relies on remittances from abroad, as reported by Kursiv Uzbekistan.
The report offers an in-depth analysis of the need to improve migration policies. It underscores their importance for economic growth and social stability, particularly in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
What You Will Learn from This Article
– The current migration situation in Europe and Central Asia
– The economic impact of migration
– The World Bank’s recommendations for regulating migration
– The migration situation in Uzbekistan
– How the pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict have influenced migration from Uzbekistan
A comparison of migration trends: past and present
Migration plays a significant role in Europe and Central Asia. With around 100 mln migrants, this region is one of the largest migration areas in the world. Labour migration is a vital income source for millions of Central Asian citizens.
In 2023, 80% of migrants from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan found work in Russia. In contrast, migration flows from Uzbekistan were more diversified, with 57% migrating to the Russian Federation, 15% to Kazakhstan and 10% to Ukraine.
According to data from 2024, remittances from migrant workers accounted for 45% of Tajikistan’s GDP, making the country one of the global leaders regarding migration income. In Kyrgyzstan, remittances represented 28% of GDP, while in Uzbekistan, they accounted for 14%.
Immigrants from these countries can significantly increase their income by working abroad, often doubling or tripling it. This income boost greatly enhances the living standards of their families.
For example, in Kyrgyzstan, the poverty rate among households receiving remittances is below 10%. In contrast, without this financial support from abroad, the number of low-income families could rise to nearly 50%. The World Bank estimates that the poverty rate would increase in Uzbekistan from 9.6% to 16.2% without remittances.
The road ahead: Trends in migration and their economic impact
The World Bank’s report The Way Forward: Supporting Successful Migration in the Europe and Central Asia Region offers an in-depth analysis of migration trends in the EU and Central Asia and their economic impact. It is authored by Loram Bossavi, Daniel Garrote Sanchez, and Mattia Makovec.
It highlights that migration can be a crucial tool for addressing socio-demographic challenges in Europe and Central Asia. However, the economic potential of migration is not being fully realised.
Paolo Belli, the Practice Leader for Social Protection and Labour in the Europe and Central Asia regions, commented, “We hope that this report will help inform the migration policy debate not only in this region but also elsewhere, generating new ideas and policy solutions. The aim is to organise the migration process better, maximise its benefits, and minimise its potential costs.”
What the World Bank recommends
The World Bank has proposed several public policies to manage migration and ensure its benefits are equitably distributed effectively:
1. Analyse Different Forms of Migration: Governments should differentiate between various types of migrants, including highly skilled and low-skilled workers, those seeking business opportunities, and individuals fleeing conflict. International information exchange and cooperation are essential for developing appropriate policy responses.
2. Integrate Migration into Workforce Competitiveness Strategies: Policies should aim to enhance the competitiveness of the labour force by providing training for new professions, developing skills, and reducing poverty. This can be achieved through training programs that involve collaboration between the state, the private sector, and investors.
3. Incorporate Migration into National Economic Development Strategies: To counteract the trend of ‘brain drain’, it is crucial to transform it into ‘brain growth’ by integrating relevant aspects of migration into national economic development strategies. Government authorities should regularly monitor labour market needs and establish mechanisms for strategically financing education to train in-demand specialists.
4. Establish a Safe and Organised Migration System: It is important to implement registration systems for migrants in their countries of origin and to create bilateral agreements with host countries. A reliable information system should also be developed to inform skilled migrants about available opportunities.
5. Ensure the Transfer of Social Security and Insurance Payments: Public authorities in countries of origin should take steps to facilitate the transfer of social security and insurance payments to the host countries.
These measures aim to create a more effective and fair migration system that benefits both migrants and host countries.
On the migration situation in Uzbekistan
The presentation also discussed the significant impact of migration on the economy and social structure of Uzbekistan.
60% of labour migrants going abroad have professional education, 30% have complete secondary education, and 6% have basic secondary education and below. Only 4% of migrants have graduated from higher education institutions.
These figures mean that skilled workers from Uzbekistan are not in demand along traditional migration routes. There are limited opportunities for highly qualified specialists to work abroad, which indicates the need to diversify the country’s labour market.
Pandemic, Uzbekistan, migration …
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted labour migration in Uzbekistan. In April 2020, remittances to Central Asia dropped by 50%.
During the pandemic, many Uzbek migrants working in Russia were compelled to return home due to border closures and diminished economic opportunities.
This situation underscored the urgent need to create jobs in Uzbekistan and strengthen the local economy.
Russian-Ukrainian conflict
After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict, the number of migrants from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan significantly decreased. Following Russia’s military mobilisation decree in September 2022, emigration from Uzbekistan dropped by 15% within one month.
Remittances from Uzbek migrants in Russia also saw a remarkable decline after the conflict began. In January, 7.8% of Uzbek families received remittances, but by March, this figure plummeted to 2.7%, representing a 65% decrease. This situation highlights the urgent need for Uzbekistan to diversify its economy and create new migration pathways.
Among the poorest households in Uzbekistan, one in five receives remittances from abroad, while only 1% of high-income households benefit from such financial support. Migration has significantly alleviated poverty, and remittances have substantially grown family incomes. This underscores the important role remittances play in the Uzbek economy.
The presentation concludes that migration in the Europe and Central Asia region profoundly impacts economic growth and social stability. According to a new World Bank report, effective migration management and the full utilisation of migration opportunities should become priorities for countries in the region. To this end, countries need to develop measures aimed at improving migration policies and enhancing migrants’ economic contributions.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports on the approval of an agreement for cooperation in migration between Uzbekistan and Germany.
