Attracting and retaining globally mobile skilled migrants: Policy challenges based on Australian research

For people with managerial, professional or technical skills and work experience, the job market is global, if they so choose. Their skills and work experience are sought after in a number of countries and they have a choice of where they would prefer to work. This article¹ examines globally mobile skilled migrants' reasons for migration and return migration, as indicated in Australian research, and the policy challenges some of these reasons may pose for source and destination countries that want to retain or attract these people. This is because while some reasons or factors motivating the migration or return migration of skilled workers can be influenced by government policy, others such as lifestyle or quality of life factors may pose more difficulties for policy influence.