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Dr. Sinem Yilmaz, MPG's Integration Policy Analyst, was interviewed by the Financial Times on the missed potential of highly skilled migrants - brain waste - in Europe. The article highlights how European countries hinder educated people from abroad from working in their fields of trained professions and expertise.![]()
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Learn more about the article here ➡ bit.ly/3JtYe6A![]()
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European countries experience a significant demand for highly skilled migrant labour. However, the unemployment rate among degree-holding migrants remains twice as high as that of native populations. Nearly half of all degree-holding migrants work in positions for which they are overqualified, in contrast to less than a third of native workers.![]()
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It is mentioned in the article that not all countries experience ‘brain waste’ in a similar way. Sinem highlights Portugal as a positive example, noting “They not only have a plan, but they execute it and try to improve it. This is really good practice that we cannot see for the majority of European countries when it comes to integration”.![]()
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She also adds that “Portugal knows how to make the most of its highly skilled migrant population and its focus on the tech industry and entrepreneurship has been an important part of its economic recovery since the financial crisis. These are sectors with flexible job markets that can accommodate highly skilled people with diverse qualifications and backgrounds”.![]()
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If you are interested in learning more about the integration policies in Portugal, check out our Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) country report ➡ bit.ly/3JwPX1r