#brain-drain

#brain-drain

Brain drain refers to circumstances in which highly trained experts from underdeveloped and overexploited countries migrate to wealthier international job markets. Such loss of human capital can be catastrophic for a nation's development, as a shortage of trained workers tends to strain critical sectors like healthcare and education. Now the United States government - which once fielded as many as 281,000 scientists and engineers - is experiencing a similar phenomenon.

For a generation, the smartest people I knew dreamed of moving to America. They took uninspiring jobs, learned to wait through endless paperwork, and believed that one visa stamp could change their lives. That belief built an empire of talent that powered some of the world's most iconic companies. And now, that same empire is dying, or at the very least, dreaming of moving elsewhere. Talent is now voting with its feet.

After relocating back to my home in the Midlands, I find clients are reluctant to look further afield than their back gardens. As a working-class creative, I understand that regional pride is something to be celebrated, but navel-gazing only contributes to the brain drain down the M1. When working with cultural clients, if I make reference to things from London or abroad, it's met with defensive disdain.

Although state leaders often emphasize financial achievements, a deeper concern persists as Mississippi continues to lose many of its most highly educated residents, placing the long-term stability and competitiveness of the state's economy in serious jeopardy. The 2020 Census initially reported that Mississippi lost more than 6,000 residents, making it one of only three states to show population decline. But follow-up analysis by the U.S. Census Bureau estimated a major undercount, about 4.11%.

Our Labor Day special offers an in-depth examination of the value of an American higher education for international students and the challenges they now face in studying in the US, amid new visa restrictions. We also hear about American faculty and researchers faced with funding cuts and a potential brain drain. In this edition, we travel to India, Europe and Africa.

During the demonstration in Argentina, researchers expressed deep concern regarding the alarming decline in state investment in science and technology, essential for the nation's future.