North America is a fascinating region for migration of talent. According to the Migration Policy Institute, Canada is a leading destination for migrants, while the U.S. and Mexico border is the world’s top migration corridor. The United States is home to more immigrants than any other country, and continues to draw talent from all over the world.
However, migration of talent into this region is not without complications. Brain waste is a huge problem for this area, with many highly skilled immigrants relegated to jobs that require low skill levels if they can find work at all. The immigrant population into North America is also changing, with the number of workers from China and India surpassing the number if immigrants from Mexico. How will these changes affect the future of talent migration for North America? Let’s take a closer look.
Brain Waste
An increasing number of new arrivals to North America are highly educated. According to current research, “Almost half of immigrants entering between 2011 and 2015 held at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 33 percent before the recession.”
While the United States is one of the most popular destinations for these individuals, it is extremely difficult for immigrants to find jobs at their skill level. Employers in this region often have a negative perception of foreign education and training. As a result, foreign credentials often go unrecognized. A shortage of programs to bridge gaps in skill sets exacerbates the problem. In addition, employers in regions that are almost exclusively English-speaking are critical of employees that are not completely fluent in English.
There are a few public and non-profit organizations that help individuals transition to skilled work in North America, but the population they serve is relatively small. High cost prevents many immigrants from using these services. North America needs a more innovative approach for dealing with brain waste, but it will require the backing of policy makers throughout North America.
The Changing Landscape of Talent Migration
Increasing numbers of employees from China and India migrated to North America in the last three years, overtaking the number of immigrants from Mexico. According to a report from Pew Research Center, “More Mexican immigrants have returned to Mexico than have migrated to the United States since the end of the 2007-2009 Great Recession.” As the Mexican economy improves, job opportunities weaken in the United States, and border control increases, fewer Mexican workers migrate into the U.S. and Canada.
As the United States and Canada rely more on service industries than manufacturing to move the economy forward, migration of highly skilled laborers from China and India steadily increases. Experts believe this trend will continue as these workers become permanent residents and family members join them in North America.
Employers in shortage areas call for change in U.S. legislation to accommodate these skilled workers. Widespread support for proposals could increase the number of permanent visas in the United States. If the legislation goes through and the brain waste issue improves, migration of skilled workers from Asia into North America will increase. However, North America needs solutions for these policy issues to attract a continued supply of highly skilled employees from across the globe.
With increasing competition for highly skilled labor, North America must update its policies and find innovated solutions for brain waste to maintain its status as the top region for migration of talent. The global need for skilled workers is increasing, and countries with convenient options for talented workers could outpace this region if the legal policies do not change in the near future. Employers that educate themselves and ease the transition to North America will attract many highly skilled applicants from around the world.
