A recent World Development Report revealed that Indians working abroad have experienced a significant increase in income by around 120% compared to a 40% increase due to internal migration. The study noted that low-skilled Indian migrants to the US have seen the largest gain in income at around 500%, followed by those to the United Arab Emirates.
However, workers migrating to the GCC nations, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have seen a lesser increase in income. The report emphasized that factors such as skills, language proficiency, age, and destination play a critical role in determining income gains. The study also found that migration leads to substantial wage increases for most people whose skills match the needs of the destination society.
Moreover, the report highlights that migration comes at a cost, with Indians migrating to Qatar spending an average of two months' earnings to meet the migration cost. However, the study also pointed out that remittances from some countries contributing to large migrant populations, including India, have increased.
