Skilled Labour Migration (The 'Brain Drain') from Developing Countries: Analysis of Impact and Policy Issues
Background
International migration of skilled persons has assumed increased importance in recent years reflecting the impact of globalisation, revival of growth in the world economy and the explosive growth in the information and communications technology (ICT). A number of developed countries have liberalized their policies for the admission of highly skilled professionals.
The problem lies in the fact that this demand is largely met by developing countries, triggering an exodus of their skilled personnel. While some amount of mobility is obviously necessary if developing countries are to integrate into the global economy, a large outflow of skilled persons poses the threat of a 'brain drain' which can adversely impact growth and development. There is a clear need to assess the costs and benefits to developing countries of current trends in the brain drain, with a view to finding solutions to mitigate the adverse impact. The recent UK government (DFID) White Paper on International Development, Eliminating World Poverty: Making Globalisation Work for the Poor - (pdf 644 KB) has rightly pointed out the need on the part of developed countries to be more sensitive to the impact on developing countries of the brain drain. It was in this context that the Department for International Development, United Kingdom, approached the ILO for carrying out research relevant to the above issues.
While it is obviously not possible to prevent people from migrating to developed countries for better prospects in this era of globalisation and democratic governance, the adverse impact of such movements on development and poverty in developing countries and policy options to mitigate such impacts merit serious attention. The Department for International Development (DFID) UK, has taken the initiative in this area by calling for in-depth research into the issue. The interst of DFID in this research is to be able to participate actively and constructively in the UK and EU debate over skilled migration, protecting and promoting the interests of poor people in developing countries. The International Migration Branch (MIGRANT), ILO carried out a DFID-sponsored research project on Skilled Labour Migration ('the Brain Drain') from Developing countries: Analysis of impact and policy issues' to address these issues in the first half of 2001. Since the research was to be carried out over a short period of four months, ILO commissioned
a small number of specialists who had already done considerable work in the area.
While the primary interest of DFID was in policy issues relating to the UK, it was considered fruitful to compare and draw lessons from the US experience, where there has been extensive debate and accompanying research with regards to skilled migration . It was also clear that information from some source countries themselves would enrich the research. Therefore, it sponsored a series of studies in the following countries and regions: Bulgaria, Argentina and Uruguay, Jamaica and the Caribbean, India, Philippines, South and Southern Africa and Sri Lanka. studies in seven countries or subregions: India, Philippines and Sri Lanka (Asia); South Africa and Southern African subregion (Africa); Bulgaria (Eastern & Central Europe); Jamaica and the Caribbean and Argentina and Uruguay (Latin America) were initiated and completed in May. The selection of countries was guided by several criteria: a high incidence of skill loss, the level of development and the need to represent various regions.
Issues studied
- How does migration of skilled workers and students affect developing country labour markets?
- How does migration of skilled workers and students affect developing countries' ability to
integrate into global markets?
- What role do remittances play?
- What impact does skilled migration have on poverty in developing countries.What do we know about
the impact of the emigration of the skilled workers on poverty in communities of origin?
Taking into account its overall impact, does it on balance contribute to worsening or improving
income distribution in developing countries?
- How important is the UK as a destination for skilled workers and students from developing
countries and how important is it likely to become?
- What should the UK Government do to ensure that impacts on developing countries are taken
account of in design and delivery of policies on areas that relate to skilled migration?
- What should the UK Government do to ensure that impacts on developing countries are taken
account of in GATS negotiations over the temporary movement of natural persons?
All these issues finally addressed the questions: what are the policy implications for developing country governments, the EU and the UK? What further research is needed?
Major Outputs
The major outputs of the project are: listed in the document
List of Project Reports. In addition to a series of core reports on issues of concern, it has produced seven country studies on the brain drain. The overall synthesis report titled
Migration of Highly Skilled Persons from Developing Countries: Impact and Policy Responses - Synthesis Report -
(pdf 111 KB) was presented at the Seminar on "The Future of UK Migration: Impact on Developing Countries?", 11 June 2001 organized by the Institute for Public Policy Research, London (LINK) in cooperation with DFID in London. The various studies are being brought out as ILO working papers in the first instance.
For further information, please contact:
- Piyasiri Wickramasekara - Senior Migration Specialist
International Migration Branch
International Labour Office in Geneva
Tel. +41-22 799 6497 or 7999 6667 (secretary)
Fax : +41-22 799 8836
E-mail: wickramasekara@ilo.org
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