Focusing the picture of highly skilled individuals’ mobility

​The voluntary emigration of highly skilled individuals is increasing on a global scale. The different shapes and motivations for their mobility are investigated in a recently published book Global Mobility of Highly Skilled People. Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Self-initiated Expatriation. The volume focuses on the professional and personal experiences and objectives of highly skilled immigrants in Finland and Finnish individuals emigrating to foreign countries. One of the key questions the book examines is how attractive the Nordic countries are as hosts for self-expatriation.

The motives behind self-expatriation often relate to improved career opportunities, experienced internal and external motivation, and the existing social sphere of the individual. Such voluntary mobility occurs in many areas and locations, and is multidirectional. Such mobility can also occur more than once in a person’s life. Central positive experiences of such mobility relate to the hospitable environment in the host country, and learning the language and customs of the host country. For example, Finland could become more attractive through more open and flexible regulation.

– The immigration policy should be planned more holistically on all levels, in order to attract especially highly skilled people and prevent brain drain, because these individuals are aware of the opportunities, that are offered for them and their families elsewhere, says researcher Driss Habti from the University of Eastern Finland.

The volume Global Mobility of Highly Skilled People. Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Self-initiated Expatriation, published by Springer, was edited by researcher Driss Habti from the University of Eastern Finland and post-doctoral researcher Maria Elo from the University of Turku School of Economics.

More information: Maria Elo, maria.elo(at)utu.fi