The challenge of skilled expatriates from the Indian subcontinent losing intellectual capital in Australia: resolving the crisis of habitus

Abstract

PurposeThis article aims to examine the challenges faced by highly skilled expatriates (i.e. professionals and managers) from the Indian subcontinent (i.e. India and neighboring countries) as they attempt to advance their careers in Australia. Extant literature has revealed significant gaps between policies for skilled migration proposed by governments in developed countries and the response to policies by organizations in those countries. By employing the theories of habitus, disembedding, sensemaking and acculturation as frameworks for analysis, the authors explore and explain how these expatriates settle and integrate into their new lives and careers as they resolve their experience of habitus.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed phenomenology and narrative research techniques using 21 in-depth, semistructured interviews with expatriate professionals from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to explore and examine their expatriation experiences and their occupational progress in Australia.FindingsThe findings reveal that on migrating to Australia, expatriate professionals are uprooted from their home country habitus and thrust into new conditions that cause them to lose their cultural, economic, intellectual and social capital, which further leads them into a state of “disembeddedness.” These highly skilled expatriates then rely on sensemaking and acculturation to resolve their crisis of habitus. The authors also found that gender is a significant factor in this process, as female expatriates faced more career-related barriers compared to their male counterparts.Originality/valueThis article brings into focus previously unexamined avenues of expatriation research and proposes a novel theoretical framework that is instrumental in explaining the settlement and integration process of highly skilled professionals from emerging nations.

The evolving field of global mobility: responses to global volatility (2013–2022)

“…More recent research has pointed out that expatriates' competency recognition by HCNs may vary depending on the host context influenced by power imbalances between emerging and developed countries. For instance, skilled expatriates from headquarters in India to Australia lost intellectual capital in the context of their host subsidiary in Australia because their competencies were less valued in their host context (Mohyuddin et al. , 2021).…”

“Whether you like my skin or not, I am here”: skilled racial minority migrant women's experiences of navigating career challenges in the White Icelandic labor market

“…SRMM women are disadvantaged in building social and economic capital (Mohyuddin et al. , 2022) and face an intersection of barriers stemming from prejudice in the workplace (Bolzani et al.…”

“…SRMM women are disadvantaged in building social and economic capital (Mohyuddin et al, 2022) and face an intersection of barriers stemming from prejudice in the workplace (Bolzani et al, 2021), manifesting in microaggressions, everyday sexism and everyday racism. Skilled Muslim and ethnic minority migrant women face additional prejudice and challenges in fitting in Kristinsson and Sigurðard ottir (2019) and Tariq and Syed (2018), and indirect, subtle and covert forms of discrimination stemming from intersections of gender, race, ethnicity and religion have become more prevalent (Syed and Pio, 2010).…”

“…Nevertheless, skilled migrants in Western labor markets experience discrimination; their education and skills are systematically devalued (Dietz et al. , 2015; Mohyuddin et al. , 2022; Syed, 2008).…”

“…Countries around the world are attempting to attract and retain skilled migrants in what has been termed the global race for talent (Czaika and Parsons, 2018;Iredale, 2005). Nevertheless, skilled migrants in Western labor markets experience discrimination; their education and skills are systematically devalued (Dietz et al, 2015;Mohyuddin et al, 2022;Syed, 2008). Such barriers hinder skilled migrants' full deployment of their human capital as well as limiting their further development of capital in the host country.…”