International migration of Moroccan women: An underestimated component Abdeslam Marfouk Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) Moroccan Women from Here and Elsewhere Change, Challenges and Pathways Council for the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) December 19-20, 2008 Marrakesh

Why do we know very little about international migration in general?  Number of international migrants in the world has increased by 145% between 1965 and 2005 / 3 millions per year: 78 millions in millions in 2005 (United Nations)  Official transfers sent by migrants from developing countries are estimated at $ 251 billion in 2007 (World Bank Prospects Group)  Transfers received by developing countries have more than doubled since 2000 (+118%)  International migration meets a growing interest (policy makers, researchers, international institutions and the media), especially the phenomenon of brain drain and its impact on developing countries

Why do we know very little about international migration in general?  There is broad consensus that the statistics on international migration are 'poor‘  Emigration statistics in countries of origin, if available: incomplete and inaccurate  The data published by international institutions provide very partial and irrelevant information  Many researchers noted that data on international migration are very scarce and incomplete, which is a major obstacle for the study of migration dynamics

Why do we know very little about international migration in general?  More important deficit of data with regard to structure by gender and by level of qualification  Consequences:  Underestimating the role of women in international migration and the impact of migration of women on countries of origin  Underestimating the role of the diaspora as actors for developing countries of origin

Why do we know very little about international migration in general?  International institutions (OECD and World Bank), and researchers have made efforts to develop and disseminate new databases  Partially filling in the gaps in this area  Promoting research and helping improve our knowledge about some aspects of international migration  Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007) / Docquier & Marfouk (2004, 2006)

New database on international migration by gender and levels of education (2004, 2006)  Methodological approach?  Insofar as the emigration statistics are lacking or less accurate, the number of emigrants can be known only through the statistics on immigration in host countries  Step One: Number of migrants  Data collection in the 30 OECD countries, 2 periods (1990 and 2000), by country of origin  3 levels of education (low skilled, fairly skilled and skilled)  Step two: rate of emigration by level of qualification - Exodus of 1,034,373 skilled people from India (4% of the national skilled workforce) - Emigration of 4,448 skilled people from the Gambia (68% national skilled workforce)

Immigration structure in the OECD zone Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

Destination of migrants in %, by level of qualification, 2000 Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

Emigration rate by level of qualification, in %, 2000 Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

Comparison of emigration rates by level of qualification, in %, 2000 Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

Emigrants (in absolute values) and emigration rates (%) of skilled people, 2000 Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

Proportion of women in total immigration, in % Source: Nations Unies

Aspect of literature in favour of migration of men  Aspect of literature in favour of migration of men enhanced clichés and stereotypes  Participation of women in international migration is insignificant  Women are “passive migrants” who left the countries of origin only for the sake of family gathering (as wife, mother or daughter of male migrants)  Data show that a significant proportion of women emigrate independently: Pearce (2006)

Proportion of women in Moroccan emigration, by region of destination, 2000 Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

Ratio of the skilled among the emigrants of Moroccan origin, by gender and country of residence, 2000 Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

Comparison of emigration rates of skilled people, by gender, 2000 Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

Comparison of emigration rates of the skilled people, by gender, 2000 Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

What future trend of brain drain? variations , in % Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)

What future trend of brain drain? Source: Docquier, Lowell & Marfouk (2007)