The Dominican Republic is a net emigration country. Despite having one of the highest economic growth rates in the region, about 14 percent of the Dominican population has sought better opportunities abroad, in countries such as Spain and the United States. At the same time, this growth has prompted demand for foreign labour. Today, nearly 4 percent of the country’s population is foreign-born, and 86.5 percent of that population is from Haiti.

A review of the main migration policies that have been implemented in the country in the last century reveals that although further action is needed, the Dominican Republic has made progress on strengthening its institutions and implementing a long-term vision on migration. This paper analyses the main impacts of the migration patterns described in the literature, notably the fact that the migrant population plays a fundamental role in sectors such as agriculture and construction, as it is a substitute for unskilled native-born labour and complements the highly educated workforce.

On the topic of emigration, the evidence clearly shows that remittances sent by the diaspora also play a key role in the national economy. The paper concludes by presenting a series of recommendations for the formulation of migration policies in the Dominican Republic, with the aim of addressing various aspects of the current situation, the link between migration and the labour market and the needs of the Dominican diaspora.