Migration

Migration is the movement of people from one geographical location to the next, usually for permanent residence. This movement can be both internal and external.
 Source or Origin describes the country or region from which a migration begins.
 Destination: describes the country or region where a migration is completed.

Types of Migration
International Migration: Migration between countries e.g., Jamaica to USA.
Internal Migration: Migration within one country e.g., Stony Hill to Kingston.
Temporary Migration: Migration for a limited period, this might only be for a few weeks or even several years.
Permanent Migration: Migration with the intention of staying forever.
Forced Migration: When people are forced to migrate, often because their life is in danger.
Voluntary Migration: When people freely choose to migrate e.g., for better weather, jobs or education
Economic Migration: Migration for work e.g., better salary or promotion
Seasonal Migration: Migration just for a particular season e.g., the ski season or the harvesting season.
Rural-Urban Migration (Internal Migration)
This is the movement of people from the countryside to town and city areas. Rural-urban migration is a type of internal migration.
NB. The major reasons for this movement can be classified into push and pull factors.

Push Factors
They move due to push and pull factors. Push factors are things that make people want to leave an area.

Unemployment and Low Standard of Living:

Many jobs in the rural areas of Jamaica are linked to the primary sector, especially agriculture. Many farmers earn a low income, and they also find it difficult to produce enough
food to sustain their subsistence way of life. Some of the younger persons do not like working in agriculture because of the manual labour and the low earnings.

Lack of Proper Infrastructure:

This is seen in the poor infrastructure in some rural areas such as deplorable roads and lack of piped water and electricity in some areas. The sanitation facilities are also limited,
and garbage collection can be irregular and may not happen at all.

Lack of Social Services:

The rural areas in Jamaica do not offer many options for tertiary education. There are also few health care facilities such as clinics and major hospitals. Where these health
facilities exist, they sometimes do not offer major surgical procedures for heart, cancer, or dialysis patients.
Pull Factors
Pull factors are what attracts someone to their area and makes them want to migrate there.

Higher Wages and Better Standard of Living:

The city offers a wider range of jobs across all economic sectors, for example, in factories, banks and government offices. People think there are better paying job prospects and
regular work that does not require much manual labour. This will result in an improvement in the standard of living for the migrants.

Better Infrastructure:

In the city public facilities such as roads are of higher quality and are also better maintained. There is a wider access to electricity, piped water, and proper sanitation facilities such
as regular garbage collection.

Adequate Social Services:

There are wider options for tertiary education as more colleges and universities are in the urban areas, such as UWI, UTECH and MICO. Most of Jamaica’s clinics and major
hospitals are found in the town and cities, for example, UHWI, KPH and Bustamante Children’s Hospitals are found in the town and cities, for range of medical procedures for all
types of patients.

Consequences of Rural-Urban Migration in the cities

The large influx of people into urban areas can overwhelm existing infrastructure and job markets, leading to increased competition for limited employment opportunities. Many
migrants lack the necessary skills or education to secure well-paying jobs, further exacerbating the problem. As a result, urban areas may struggle to provide adequate resources
and support to their growing populations, leading to higher rates of unemployment and poverty.

Lack of Proper Housing and the development of Slums:

As the population increases, demand for housing surpasses supply, leading to the development of slums and informal settlements. These areas lack basic amenities like clean
water, sanitation, and access to healthcare, contributing to poor living conditions and health outcomes for residents. The growth of slums can strain urban infrastructure and
exacerbate social and economic inequalities.

Traffic Congestion:

Traffic congestion is a common issue in many Caribbean cities due to several factors such as population growth, limited infrastructure, narrow roads, and reliance on personal
vehicles. Tourism and commercial activities can exacerbate congestion, especially in popular destinations. Some cities are implementing measures like public transportation
improvements, congestion pricing, and promoting alternative modes of transportation to address this issue.
Consequences of International Migration
Remittances (Positive):

Immigrants send remittances (money) to their families. This contributes vital foreign exchange. In this way they are also able to financially assist their families who are dependent
upon them.

Employment opportunities (positive):

Many immigrants can find employment, earn a salary, and raise their standard of living. They can acquire their own homes and provide better futures for their children in terms of
education and the availability of public and social services.

“Barrel Children”:

“Barrel children” is a term used to describe children who are left behind in their home countries by parents who migrate internationally for work, often sending goods or money
back home in barrels or similar containers. This phenomenon has both positive and negative aspects, depending on the perspective.

NEGATIVE ASPECTS:

1. Psychological impact 3. Social stigma

2. Parental bonding 4. Vulnerability

Brain Drain (negative):

Brain drain refers to the emigration of highly or educated individuals from their home country to another country, often for better opportunities or higher wages. It is generally
considered a negative consequence of international migration for the sending country due to the loss of talent an expertise. Here are some of the key aspects of brain drain as a
negative consequence:

1. Loss of human capital 3. Economic impact 5. Social consequences

2. Impact on sectors 4. Dependency on remittances