Brain Drain

An article in the 11/25/12 Washington Post by writer Emily Matchar is a sobering—if not ominous—account of how an increasing number of educated Americans are moving abroad, primarily to find decent employment. Today there’s an all-time high of over six million Americans studying or working abroad. Young educated people are 3-5 times more likely to move abroad than they were just a few years ago.

These employment migrants are not leaving out of choice, but because they find a stifling employment environment in their home country. They graduate from college with a huge debt, often can’t find a decent job in the field they studied, and face healthcare costs that are very steep, with inadequate coverage. If they do find employment in their chosen field, they too often face an atmosphere that discourages innovation and entrepreneurship.

More and more of these young professionals are discovering far better opportunities abroad—especially in fast-growing Eastern countries. They often get a higher salary, excellent healthcare, an exciting and challenging job in the field they studied, excellent and affordable housing, decent working hours, happy co-workers, and good public education for their kids.

A parallel trend is occurring for foreign students who come to America for a good college education. Many of them in the past have stuck around and built a career here—making a positive contribution to our society. An increasing number of these graduates are now returning to their native countries, because employment opportunities are better there.

These are disturbing trends. America’s greatness is largely due to the opportunities we have historically offered people who came here from around the world. This country has been enriched by millions of capable, dedicated, and talented people who have migrated here for hundreds of years.

Have we now changed, so that we are no longer welcoming? Are we not the “land of opportunity” we have been, for so long? It’s hard to find optimistic answers to these questions, as we continue to dumb down our public education, deny our citizens good healthcare, and stifle the creative atmosphere in our professions.