Which country is tops in attracting young and educated expats? Look no farther than our neighbor to the north, Canada.
Gallup recently examined some of its past research to see if everyone around the world who wanted to move to another country actually moved to the country they desired. The idea is to determine if the aging developed countries are seeing an influx of people that can help fill their shrinking labor pools.
The analysis is based on Gallup surveys of over a half million adults in 154 countries.
The report broke migration down into three pots:
- The Potential Net Migration Index (PNMI), which measures the potential net change to the adult population by subtracting those who would like to move out of a country from those who would like to move into a country.
- The Potential Net Brain Gain Index (PNBG), which measures the potential net change to the adult population with four or more years of education after high school or the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- The Potential Net Youth Migration Index (PNYMI), which measures the net change to the 15-to-29-year-old population.
Of the major developed countries, Canada led with a Potential Net Migration Index of 120 percent, meaning more expats would like to come to Canada than leave. Canada also is more attractive to educated potential expats than the U.S. Part of that is Canada’s exemplary language and job training programs for new arrivals. The U.S. tends to appeal to younger, less educated expats, while Canada attracts slightly older and more educated newbies.
The United Kingdom, France and Germany are also solidly in plus territory on the Potential Net Migration Index, a good thing for future economic growth.
Canada also leads the Potential Net Youth Migration Index with an index of 281 percent.
Another country that stands out is Spain, but in the Potential Net Brain Gain Index. Spain’s PNBGI is 188 percent, outstripping #2 Canada by 83 percentage points.
Not doing so well, however, is Japan. It registers a -10 percent on the PNMI. Japan is aging faster than any other country in the world but continues to lose people, not gain them. Part of Japan’s problem is a very homogeneous society with tight immigration controls. Prime Minister Abe would like to change this because of the country’s shrinking labor force and declining birth rates, but not much has happened yet.
South Korea, Poland and Ukraine also find themselves in the same boat as Japan.
