A DESCRIPTION OF THE RECENT SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND OCCUPATIONAL PROFILES OF GENERAL MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, HAITIANS AND VENEZUELANS IN BRAZIL

Author: Liliana Acero

ABSTRACT

In the last decades, the increase in Latin American migration to Brazil has been exponential with profound changes in sociodemographic and occupational profiles, towards the feminization of migration and limited access to social assistance.  The study´s main aim is to develop a statistically -based exercise involving a detailed description of those present trends in Brazil in general, as well as a specific one on Haitians and Venezuelans, two of the main migrants´ nationalities. The analysis intends to provide new inputs to advance the state of the art on public migration governance and policy implementation upgraded to present trends and intersectionality by gender. It describes comparatively migrants´ characteristics, refugee status, temporary visas´ approvals, integration into different economic activities in the formal labour market and migrants´ kind of jobs by gender. It is a qualitative study based on secondary data, statistical analysis and socioeconomic interpretation following selected specialized literature. The study shows, among other, that a considerable number of Haitians and Venezuelans has been integrated into the formal labour market though usually, in low-level, ill-paid precarious jobs and especially, within industrial production. Recent changes on migrant registration involve centralization into a unique legal framework that will affect the migrant nationalities focused.

Keywords: Brazil; migration; sociodemographic profile; Venezuelan migrants; Haitian migrants; refugee status; occupational profile; migration governance.

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