Immigration to Venezuela is examined using census data with the focus on the period 1971-1981. A brief overview of trends since the beginning of the twentieth century is first presented. The analysis indicates that "immigration to Venezuela is clearly of a short-term nature. Flows follow job opportunities and adjust to the labour market and to the financial capacity of the exchange market. The large increase of migratory movements to Venezuela in the 1970's is characterized by a diversification of their places of origin and by a greater instability. To a large extent, the migrants are illegal, especially those coming from Colombia and the Caribbean islands. Because of the crisis of the early 1980's, which is now worsened by the down trend of both oil prices and the U.S. dollar, Venezuela has become less attractive to immigrants, particularly from neighbouring countries." The authors observe that migrants in Venezuela are not well integrated and may depart, disrupting the labor supply in certain technical and specialized occupations (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA) excerpt

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South and Central America Americas Latin America economics population Migrants demography developing country Population Dynamics Developing Countries Ethnic Groups ethnic group Developed Countries Illegal Migrants Temporary Migration Occupations Manpower Needs health care manpower occupation Health Manpower South America Western Hemisphere Venezuela Article migration international migration developed country population and population related phenomena Demographic Factors Emigration and Immigration Economic Factors Transients and Migrants Population Characteristics Human Resources Nationality employment Labor Force