Losing our minds: skills migration and the 'brain drain' from South Africa

The brain drain from South Africa is unlikely to slow over the next decade, and that black South Africans are as likely to leave as white South Africans. Is it possible that skills emigration is being offset by a proactive immigration policy and recruiting of skilled foreigners to make up for the “brain drain”?

The report argues for much greater public and official discussion about the pros and cons of skills immigration and its advantages and disadvantages for South Africa. Nation-building and immigration are not mutually incompatible. In some circumstances, they may actually be mutually reinforcing.

Two SAMP surveys are analysed, one looking at attitudes of employees and the other at employers.

A summary of this paper is also available at http://www.queensu.ca/samp/publications/policyseries/policy18.htm