The role of international migration in Australia's research workforce

Abstract

Academics, scientists and researchers have long been highly mobile, operating within international labor markets. Moreover, given their importance as crucial players influencing national economic development and prosperity there has been unprecedented competition among countries seeking to attract members of this highly-skilled group. It is demonstrated here that Australia has been important as both a destination and origin of scientists, researchers and academics. Australia is one of the few countries with migration data which allow the full complexity of both in- and out-movement in this sector to be analyzed. Survey data and in-depth interviews are used to explore the drivers of their mobility using case studies of Australian researchers abroad and Chinese and Indian researchers in Australia. It is shown that both return migration and third country migration are important among researchers. These skilled migrants often maintain intensive linkages with their homeland origins and there is substantial potential for contributing to their home countries' development whether they decide to return or not.