As prices soar, Palauans leave the country, candidates offer solutions

Author: Olkeriil Eoghan Ngirudelsang

Immigration is a key issue in Palau, with residents citing the high cost of living as a key factor forcing them to emigrate.

Presidential candidate Tommy Remengesau expressed concern about the trend, saying that in the past Palauans migrated for jobs, housing and independence. Now, he said, “It is particularly concerning that Palauans with jobs and housing are quitting their jobs, selling their homes and moving outside of Palau.”

Remengesau believes the root cause is affordability. “It’s not just housing and jobs,” he said, “it’s the unaffordability of Palau’s standard of living that forces them to leave.” He shared the experiences of four Palauan couples he met during his campaign in the United States who gave up good jobs, sold their possessions and emigrated.

President Soulanger Whipps II also acknowledged that the outflow of immigrants is a national challenge facing Palau. He pointed out that although Palauans had already immigrated to the United States after the signing of the Compact of Free Association, the pandemic has exacerbated the unemployment problem. In addition, the strong demand for workers in the United States has paved the way for Palauans to find jobs in the United States.

Solutions proposed by Whipps include raising the minimum wage and diversifying the economy to attract young people.

A Palauan who immigrated to the United States expressed similar concerns. Although she earns above minimum wage in her government job and her husband works for a well-known company, they still struggle to support their family of four in Palau. “We have a house that we don’t have to pay rent for,” she said, “but with two children in Palau, we simply can’t afford to live there. Traditional obligations are also a burden.” In the United States, they pay for rent and necessities, but compared to the moonlighting life in Palau, they say life in the United States is more comfortable.

Immigration remains a central issue in this election, with solutions including raising the minimum wage, improving housing opportunities and improving social services.

data

The U.S. Census Bureau reports a surge in the number of residents in Palau. https://www.census.gov/In the 2020 U.S. Census, 7,450 people identified as Palauan or part-Palauan, an increase of 114% from 3,469 in 2000.

Palau recently began tracking migration, but data is limited and estimates suggest as many as 35,000 Palauans live abroad.

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