Migration during the Pandemic

Despite closed borders, intra-regional migration continued as millions of people found themselves fleeing their precarious home labour markets

The pandemic came at a time when most Latin American economies were slowing down. Yet, intra-regional migration continued.

With the informal sector dominating the economies of the region and 40% of the population living in a vicious circle of low-skilled, low pay, informal employment, anti-immigrant feelings have resurfaced.

Throughout the region, and despite the reductions in poverty achieved in the first decade of the 2000s, 40% of the population live in poverty.

In countries such as Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, the informal economy still represents a significant proportion of the economies, providing 50-60% of employment.

With lockdowns suppressing economic activity, it is the informal sector that bore the brunt of the economic cost of the pandemic. And despite this environment, intra-regional migration continued as millions of people found themselves fleeing their precarious home labour markets to join other neighbouring, but equally precarious ones.