By: Olkeriil Eoghan Ngirudelsang
Outmigration is a critical issue in Palau, with residents citing the high cost of living as a key factor driving them abroad.
Presidential candidate Tommy Remengesau expressed alarm at the trend, stating that in the past, Palauans migrated for jobs, housing, and independence. Now, he said, “the scenario where Palauans who have jobs and housing quit their jobs, sell their homes and move to live outside of Palau” is particularly concerning.
Remengesau believes the root cause lies in affordability. “It is not just housing and jobs,” he said, “most of all, not being able to afford the standard of living in Palau is driving them away.” He shared meeting four Palauan couples during his U.S. campaign travels who had left good jobs, sold their belongings, and emigrated.
President Surangel Whipps Jr. has also acknowledged outmigration as a national challenge. He pointed out that while Palauans have long migrated to the U.S. after the Compact of Free Association, the pandemic exacerbated the issue with job losses. Additionally, high U.S. demand for workers eases the path for Palauans seeking employment there.
Whipps proposed solutions including raising the minimum wage and economic diversification to attract younger people.
A Palauan migrant to the U.S. echoed these concerns. Despite a government job above minimum wage and her husband’s employment at a prominent company, they struggled to support their family of four in Palau. “We had a home we didn’t pay rent for,” she said, “but having 2 kids in Palau, we simply could not afford to live there. The customary obligations were also a burden.” In the U.S., they pay rent and for necessities, but report a newfound comfort compared to their paycheck-to-paycheck existence in Palau.
Outmigration remains a central theme in the current election, with proposals for solutions including a minimum wage increase, improved housing opportunities, and better social services.
Data
The U.S. Census Bureau reports a surge in Palauan residents. According to https://www.census.gov/, 7,450 individuals identified as Palauan or part-Palauan in the 2020 U.S. census, a 114% increase from 3,469 in 2000.
Palau has recently begun tracking emigration, but data is limited. Estimates suggest as many as 35,000 Palauans reside outside the country.