Global Culture

With a double-page graphic representing the most numerous groups of migrant professionals going from one country to another, Wired Magazine barely skims the problem of migration:

More than 20 million migrant professionals now work abroad. [...] The US, Canada, and Australia enjoy the steadiest supply of doctors and scientists from places like India and China. Meanwhile, more than 80 percent of Haiti’s top minds are leaving the island, and countries like Ghana and Mozambique are watching nearly half their educated masses bail.

I didn’t want to settle for Wired’s limited perspective, so I got a copy of the International Migration Outlook from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. This report doesn’t focuses on professionals (and after reading it, I’m wondering how accurate Wired’s interpretation is), but provides a much more complete picture of the problem. Take a look at some of the conclusions:

• Countries with highest legal lont-term entries as a percentage of population are Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia & Canada. Finland & Japan are on the opposite side of the scale. Irregular migrants are not considered in this report, otherwise the United States would have much higher numbers.
• Immigrants represent around 25% of labour force in Switzerland and in Australia.
• Foreign workers usually face important challenges in integrating into the labour market.

The issue of migration is one of the most recurring themes in this blog, so finding these types of statistics help convey the magnitude of the problem when words are not enough. At the same time they threaten to trivialize a rather complex issue. Beyond understanding the number of people coming and going, staying or returning, I believe having a current measure of the influence we have on the cultures of those places we touch is far more important than counting us.

In the spirit of exploring this idea, think about the last time you talked to a foreigner who acted as an ambassador to their culture and really made you appreciate it or change your mind about it. Then take a few seconds to participate in our weekly poll (see sidebar). Or if you prefer, leave a comment.