Explain how global patterns of migration are influenced by high concentrations of young workers and female migrants. (8)
NB: ALWAYS check the number of available marks - so this is a typical 8 mark question and therefore you should aim to write 4 A01 points and then develop them with the typical PEE structure, using case studies, facts, and sometimes diagrams if the question is related to physical geography topicsIn the 21st century, there has been a global increase in the number of both young workers and female migrants, which has influenced and altered previous migration patterns. The influx of young migrant workers due to increased economic opportunity, especially in oil-producing Gulf states such as the UAE, Quatar and Saudi Arabia, has meant an increased demands for low-skilled, young workers, hence the number of foreign-born workers in the UAE has tripled between 2000 and 2013. This has impacted global patterns of migration because it has altered the age demographic of migrants, with a clear dominance of workers aged 25-39. Moreover, the increase in working age, young migrants also influence the reasoning behind global migration patterns, as the push and pull factors are more likely to be based on economic, labour motivations. Recently, there has also been a ‘feminization’ of migration and albeit there is limited research on female migration, emerging feminist lenses have focused on the increasing importance of female migrants in influencing global migration patterns. In 2013, 52% of all developed world migrants were women and 46% of developing world migrants were women, therefore proving women now play a key role in migration. Patterns show an increase in female labour migration to oil-rich Gulf countries, and this coupled with the increase of young workers as well has increased the overall immigration flow and labour supply in these countries. Global migration patterns are also affected by the higher concentration of female migrants as they change the gender demography patterns of migration, and also patterns which are emerging such as the growing trend of the migration of high-skilled female workers, as the first decade of the 21st century has seen an 80% rise in tertiary skilled women workers in OECD countries. However, global migration patterns are also influenced by policies and socio-economic factors.
