Noticed a recent interesting article titled “Beyond brain-drain” (June 24, 2008) on economist.com based on two surveys from Manpower – “Relocating for Work,” polled over 31,000 workers; and “Borderless Workforce,” surveyed 28,000 employers, each in 27 countries. Manpower’s Borderless Workforce Survey was released in June 2008 and is available for download on their website.

Interesting information worth noting:

* For foreign employees, America remains workers’ destination of choice, followed by Britain, Spain, Canada and Australia. The United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai, is the top emerging economy on the list, in sixth place.

* 36.9% of workers surveyed said they would consider going anywhere in the world for good work. (This percentage of global workers open to moving was slightly surprising to me. I would’ve guessed a lower number.)
* Educated workers are more willing to relocate. Of those surveyed who had less than a high-school education, 62.2% were open to moving for a job, and 28.4% had actually done so. Among those with an undergraduate degree, that rose to 85% and 46.5%, and for those with a masters degree, to 87.4% and 60.7%.

* Main resons for individuals to relocate:
1. Increased Pay
2. Opportunity for career advancement
3. Better employment opportunities
4. Opportunity to experience a new culture/environment

* 31 percent of employers worldwide are concerned about losing national talent to other countries.

* Top Countries for Recruiting Foreign Talent (majority possess professional or technical skills)
1. China
2. United States
3. India
4. United Kingdom
5. Germany
The only other less-than-fully-developed country on the list is Poland, in tenth place.

* Top Countries Believed to be a Competitive Threat
1. China
2. United States
3. India
4. United Kingdom
5. Japan

* Recorded remittances from foreign workers worldwide, according to the World Bank, totaled $318 billion in 2007.
* Most Money Sent Home by Foreign Workers
1. India
2. China
3. Mexico
4. Philippines