The year 2021 witnessed 19,063 Jamaicans gaining visas for permanent residence or citizenship in three prime countries: the USA, Canada, and the UK.
According to the 2022 Economic and Social Survey by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), these countries remain the leading destinations for Jamaican emigrants. Of the three, the US has consistently been the top choice for those leaving Jamaica.
Shifts in emigration: Numbers tell a story
Although the US stands as the most popular migration destination, there has been a noticeable 38.4 per cent decrease in Jamaican emigrants heading there.
Contrarily, Canada experienced a surge in Jamaican emigrants in 2021 with a count of 4,045, up from 2,342 in 2019.
In a broader context, there has been a 31.9 per cent drop in Jamaican emigration since 2019.
Understanding the US emigrant categories
Jamaicans admitted to the US fall into various categories.
The predominant category is “Immediate Relatives to US Citizens”, constituting 85.2 per cent of those gaining permanent status.
Following this are those admitted under “Family Sponsored Preferences”, which stands at 7.4 per cent.
Decoding Canadian emigration patterns
In 2021, statistics show the 99.3 per cent rise in Jamaican migrants obtaining permanent resident status in Canada was primarily from the working-age group.
Specifically, individuals aged 30-34 formed the largest segment at 14.5 per cent.
Another notable data point revealed that the majority of Jamaican emigrants to Canada in 2021 were “Non-workers, New Workers, Homemakers, Students, and Retirees” at 74.6 per cent, followed by “Professionals, Senior Officials, and Technicians” at 11.1 per cent.
More on Caribbean migrants
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British citizenship: The breakdown
The UK adopted a four-category system for granting citizenship: “Residence, Marriage, Entitlement, or Discretionary”.
In 2021, 1,549 Jamaicans were granted British citizenship, marking a 22.9 per cent decline from the prior year. The “Residence” category was the most common, accounting for 46.0 per cent.
Evolving dynamics within Jamaica
While emigration trends continue, Jamaica itself has seen changes in its resident demographics. Commonwealth citizen residency decreased by 11.1 per cent from 2019 to 2022.
There has also been a decline in aliens (non-nationals) registered, with 8,506 in 2022 versus 10,595 in 2019.
The majority seeking extended stays beyond six months are Asians, Caribbean nationals, and Latin Americans.
Caricom’s role in Jamaican mobility
The 2022 survey highlighted 190 Jamaicans acquiring Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) certificates, with men (54.5 per cent) slightly outweighing women (45.5 per cent).
The CSME promotes free movement of skills, goods, services, and capital across Caricom member states.
Reports are that a total of 12 specific categories are covered in the mobility agreement. These include university graduates; artists; musicians; media workers; athletes; teachers; nurses; holders of associate degrees or equivalents; artisans with a Caribbean vocational qualification (CVQ); household domestics with CVQ or equivalent qualification; agricultural workers; and security guards.
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