BANGKOK: The global economic crisis has reduced the role of migrant workers, but that is likely to change dramatically as developed countries face a shortfall in workers over the next four decades, a UN report said yesterday.

Demand for migrants will return when economic revival is underway, offering huge administrative and recruitment savings for companies operating in rich countries, the UN Development Program said.

"Following recovery from the global recession, the demand for migrant workers will return," said Jeni Krugman, author of UNDP's latest report on migration.