Original Language
English
Number of Pages
114
Reference Number
ENG0307
Year of Publication
2013

Human mobility in the Caribbean: Circulation of skills and immigration from the South

Although migratory movements in the Caribbean have a long historical precedence and are deeply embedded in the behaviour of its people, so far there has not been sufficient research on the factors that influence them and the extent of their effects. This study examines three countries with high migrant stocks in the region: Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Kitts and Nevis, exploring the impact of migration on receiving and sending countries, with particular focus on its costs and benefits for migrants and their families.



As the Caribbean Single Market and Economy gives preference to tertiary educated migrants, intraregional migration tends to be highly skilled. Immigrants are mostly from the South, not only from the region but also extraregional. Discrimination and xenophobia appear as critical issues to be addressed by policymakers in the region.

  • List of acronyms and abbreviations
  • List of figures and tables
  • Executive summary
  • Résumé analytique
  • Resumo executivo
  • I. Introduction: Rationale for choosing study countries
  • 2. Methodology
    • 2.1 Objectives
    • 2.2 Methodology
    • 2.3 Limitations of the research
  • 3. Desk review and discussion and analysis of data
    • 3.1 Desk review: The study of South–South migration in the Caribbean
    • 3.2 Analysis of stock data
  • 4. Discussion of focus group meeting findings
    • 4.1 Discussion of broad themes in the focus groups
    • 4.2 Conclusion
  • 5. Discussion of policymakers’ survey findings
    • 5.1 Survey findings
    • 5.2 Conclusion
  • 6. Conclusions and recommendations
    • 6.1 Conclusions
    • 6.2 Recommendations
  • 7. References
  • 8. Annex: Sample specimen of policymakers’ survey form