The number of professionals working abroad jumped 78% in 2010 when compared to 2009.
According to data from the 2010 remittances survey, published by the International Migration Organization, 7.273 Guatemalan professionals are working abroad, a 78% increase versus the 4.078 registered in 2009. Additionally, there are 9.303 workers with uncompleted college studies.
Out of the total remittances received in 2010, 18.4% were invested in productive activities.
According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this percentage was 16% in 2009, and averaged 14.9% in the previous six years.
“Those sending the wires from the United States to Guatemala are urging their relatives to put the money to work, as they fear being deported or being affected by the economic crisis”, noted Sonia Pellecer, from IOM.
The number of Guatemalans that benefit from remittances increased to 3.76 million to 4.17 million within the last year.
According to results from the National Remittances Survey 2008 carried out by the International Immigration Organization, the number of Guatemalans that benefitted from remittances increased from 3.76 million to 4.17 million in 2008 and the number of immigrants that send home remittances increased from 1.28 million to 1.31 million with the same period.
Competition is heating up in Central America for labor in sectors such as agriculture, construction and domestic service.
Wages are increasing rapidly because of the shortage in Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador.
In Panama and Costa Rica alone, some 300,000 workers need to be imported for harvests and the modernization of the Panama Canal, according to the World Migration Organization.
Costa Rica and Panama will have to import about 300,000 workers over the next few years to ensure the harvest of their agricultural products and the modernization of the Panama Canal, an official from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says.
The IOM director for Mexico and Central America, José Pirés, said these countries will have to import workers from Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba or Brazil to meet the demand for workers.