Caribbean Turning to Migration to Fill Growing Workforce Gaps

Caribbean countries are increasingly looking to migration as a key solution to growing labour shortages across several major sectors.

The issue was the focus of the tenth episode of the “Conversations on Migration in the Caribbean” series hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Caribbean in partnership with the CARICOM Secretariat on March 4.

The virtual discussion, titled “Migration and the Caribbean Workforce: Filling the Gaps,” featured Dominica’s Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS, Dr. Gerard Jean-Jacques, who outlined strategies being used across the region to address critical labour shortages.

According to Jean-Jacques, many Caribbean countries are grappling with shrinking workforces as populations age, birth rates decline, and working-age nationals continue to migrate overseas in search of opportunities.

These trends, he said, are already placing pressure on sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, construction and public services.

One example highlighted during the session was the story of Haitian agriculturist Yves Joseph, who migrated to Dominica nearly two decades ago and has since built a successful farming operation.

Joseph said labour shortages remain the biggest obstacle to expanding his business.

“To produce more, I only need one thing — I need labourers, I need farm workers,” he said.

Jean-Jacques noted that migrant workers have played an important role in supporting Dominica’s agricultural sector, particularly as local participation in farming continues to decline.

He pointed to the country’s regulated recruitment and permit systems that allow farmers to access labour while ensuring workers receive proper protections and support.

At the same time, the ambassador acknowledged that many migrant workers view Dominica as a temporary stop on their journey rather than a long-term destination.

Despite that trend, Joseph has chosen to remain in the country and plans to continue expanding his farming operations.

Jean-Jacques, who also represents the labour portfolio in CARICOM’s quasi-Cabinet, stressed the need for structured labour mobility policies across the region.

He explained that while governments continue to invest in training workers in fields such as healthcare, retaining skilled professionals remains a major challenge.

Recent policy initiatives have encouraged greater movement of workers within the region, particularly in hospitality and service industries. However, shortages in technical trades and agriculture continue to widen the labour gap.

IOM Caribbean Coordinator Patrice Quesada, who moderated the session, said the region must begin taking demographic trends more seriously.

He noted that declining populations across parts of the Caribbean make discussions about labour mobility increasingly urgent.

“Young people are at the forefront, and so any conversation about migration and workforce also impacts young people,” added Odane Brooks, CARICOM Youth Ambassador for Jamaica, who also participated in the discussion.

Participants agreed that stronger regional cooperation, better data collection, and education systems that match emerging labour demands will be critical in preparing the Caribbean workforce for the future.

The discussion forms part of ongoing efforts by CARICOM to develop a Regional Migration Policy Framework aimed at helping countries better manage labour mobility and economic development.

The next installment of the “Conversations on Migration in the Caribbean” series is scheduled for April 29, 2026.