Knowledge migrants rank the Netherlands third

THE HAGUE – The U.S.A., Switzerland and the Netherlands. That’s where the so-called brain drain is heading in pursuit of knowledge-based challenging jobs. A study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OESO) looked at the reasons knowledge-based migrants consider when deciding to relocate to other countries for a career: labour market, salaries, the reputation of higher education, and knowledge infrastructure. The Netherlands is home to 26,000 such migrants of whom the largest group, almost four out of every ten, was sent out by their employer. A slightly smaller group had qualifications which are sought almost everywhere in the world and follow the best offers. Nearly one out of every two knowledge migrants hails from Asia. Many come to the Netherlands of their own free choice and tend to be below thirty years of age. Often they have also considered going to the U.S.A., the U.K. and to Germany, Canada and Australia as well. One out of four want to extend they stay in the Netherlands, one out of seven for the long-term. The study reviewed the migrant situation in eleven countries.