Why did many people leave Martinique for France after the late 1970s?

Beginning in the late 1970s, many residents of Martinique emigrated to France primarily due to significant economic challenges on the island.1

The island faced a depressed economy characterized by high rates of unemployment and other economic maladies. These difficulties were further exacerbated by widespread destruction caused by hurricanes in 1979 and 1980. Historically, emigration to France had served as a palliative measure for the island's economic instability, and this trend intensified as the population sought better opportunities amidst the lack of local economic progress.21