Return of Skills

The impact of the return of migrant skills is an important dimension in the migration-development nexus. The implications of return migration for development can be analyzed in terms of financial capital, human capital, and social capital. These implications were described in the context of diasporas and development in Topic Three. One of the fundamental challenges regarding the return of skills is how to reach out to and encourage members of diasporas to return, either permanently or temporarily, to facilitate the sharing of their skills.

The knowledge, skills, competencies, and attributes that accumulate in individuals facilitate the creation of personal, social, and economic well-being. Migrants, while living and working abroad, gain considerable work experience and skill. These new skills and ideas can have positive impacts on migrants' home countries when they return, provided the environment is receptive for their application.

Migrants can act as change agents economically, technologically, and socially. The extent of the contribution of returning migrants to the development process depends on the aptitude and the degree of preparation of the migrants, whether they are returning temporarily or permanently, as well as on the existing socio-economic and institutional conditions in their home country. The return of migrants has a greater likelihood of positively influencing the development process in their home country when the relationship resources that belong to an individual or a group through their network of mutual acquaintance and recognition can allow migrants to tap into the social capital of both their country of origin and their country of destination.

Important Points

  1. Apart from sending remittances, migrants also save some money while abroad, which they bring with them on return. The impact of financial capital is subject to similar debate as the debate surrounding remittances. However, it is widely recognized that financial capital can have a multiplier effect on the development process.
  2. Benefits are gained from the temporary presence of highly skilled professionals ("brain circulation"). Visits by teachers, health professionals, engineers, scientists, and other skilled persons can provide the necessary means and stimulus for the development of the education sector, and the overall development of human capital.
  3. In order to encourage the return of highly skilled migrants, governments might offer certain incentive schemes to attract and retain professional and skilled manpower. Effective practices used to promote the return of qualified nationals abroad have included official web sites with employment and other information, job placements, incentives such as travel costs, integration assistance, medical insurance and professional equipment to help ensure successful reintegration.
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