Labour migration is a key driver of global economic growth. Migrants fill critical labour and skills shortages, sustain essential industries and contribute to development through remittances and knowledge exchange. Yet, the contributions of labour migration depend on how effectively it is governed: well-designed pathways can facilitate safe and orderly labour mobility, while gaps in governance may lead to skills mismatches, underemployment and vulnerabilities for migrant workers.

This report – the third installment in the Migration Governance Insights series – offers IOM’s first globally comparative assessment of how countries govern labour migration. Drawing on data from the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI), IOM’s flagship initiative on migration governance, the report analyses how 110 countries and 96 local jurisdictions regulate labour migration through structured legal, policy and regulatory frameworks established by States at the national, bilateral, regional and global levels.

Aimed at policymakers and practitioners, the report distills lessons from over 60 policy examples and integrates empirical findings to support discussions on labour policy coherence, strengthen labour migration outcomes and position mobility as a lever for sustainable economic development.