Skilled migration in the literature: what we know, what we think we know, and why it matters to know the difference

Abstract

The global importance of international migration cannot be underestimated. In 2015, 3.3% of the world's population lived outside their country of origin. 1 Yet, many misconceptions about migration persist in both the literature and policy dialogue. Large-scale surveys conducted in 2018-in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US)-found strikingly large biases in the host's perceptions of the number and characteristics of immigrants. For example, in all countries, respondents greatly overestimate the total number of immigrants. They think immigrants are, among other things, culturally more distant, less educated, more unemployed, poorer, and more reliant on government transfers than is the case (Alesina et al. 2018). Migrants are also believed to be less skilled than those who stayed in the source country, a phenomenon that researchers call "negative selection." 2 In reality, international migration has been increasingly restricted since the end of World War II, to the point that individuals who are not skilled-in fact, exceptionally skilled-find it difficult to seek legal employment in other countries. In fact, the increasing restrictions and regulations imposed on global migrant flows, in turn, have fueled growth in undocumented migration (Massey et al. 2005). Several Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) members use points-based systems that require immigrants to meet a specific set of criteria (e.g., language proficiency, educational attainment, professional or trade licenses/certifications, age, and financial situation) before they are even considered for admission. 3 Host countries then choose among eligible applicants based on their labor and economic needs.

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“…In NZ migrants find it difficult to secure suitable employment or any employment (Omisakin, 2016). Thus, there is an influx of skilled migrants who can become underemployed and unemployed (Gentile, 2019).…”