Labor Migration in Asia: Fair recruitment, training, and development

This ADBI-OECD-ILO joint publication captures new and emerging trends in labour migration in Asia, with a focus on recruitment, training and development.

This report is based on the discussions at the 14th ADBI-OECD-ILO Roundtable on Labor Migration in Asia: Maximizing the Impact of Labor Migration on Development, held on 28-29 May 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. The annual roundtable brings together labour experts and policymakers from across Asia to discuss trends in labour migration and emerging policy and issues on migrant workers. 

Chapter 1 reviews labour migration trends through the end of 2024, highlighting shifts by origin, destination, and student mobility. Chapter 2 examines recent trends and challenges in migrant worker recruitment in the region. Chapter 3 explores emerging models of pre-departure skills training for labour migrants in Asia and the Pacific. Finally, Chapter 4 highlights remittances as a key source of external finance that supports development and poverty reduction, while also noting risks such as brain drain, trade imbalances, and economic overreliance on remittances. Statistical annexes provide updated economy-specific notes and comparative tables on country-level migration flows.