Recruitment for overseas jobs: Is it brain drain or brain gain?

The Ministry of Labour has recently embarked on a nationwide recruitment drive targeting youth seeking jobs abroad. While some Kenyans celebrate these efforts, others are outraged, labelling the trend as a "brain drain."

They argue that the government should focus on creating sufficient job opportunities at home. This may not be possible given the prevailing economic conditions. So to better understand whether this phenomenon constitutes a "brain drain" or a "brain gain," it is worth examining historical and contemporary examples from other global economies.

In the 19th century, Chinese migrants moved to the US to escape economic hardships back home. Many of them worked in the US with the hope of saving enough money to eventually return to China. Today, there is a growing trend of Chinese emigrants and students returning home after studying or working abroad, bringing back valuable skills, ideas, and financial resources to benefit their homeland.

Similar trends have been observed in parts of Europe and Asia, where emigrants have returned with significant contributions to their home countries.

Data indicates a positive economic contribution by the African diaspora despite the challenging work conditions some face abroad. In Africa, remittances surpassed foreign aid and development assistance as of 2023.

Read: IKUNDA: Search for jobs outside country makes sense

According to the Central Bank of Kenya, remittances rose to approximately Sh53 billion in July 2024, up from Sh48 billion during the same period in 2023.

This underscores the potential benefits of emigration, such as reducing pressure on the Kenyan labour market and acting as a catalyst for skills development and financial growth. Admittedly, emigration may lead to shortages in critical sectors, such as healthcare “brain strain”.

However, the prospect of migrating can also incentivise more students to pursue careers in high-demand fields like healthcare.

Although not all aspiring emigrants may eventually leave the country, this dynamic could lead to an increased pool of skilled professionals in Kenya, creating a "brain gain." If similar trends occur in other sectors requiring specialised skills, it could significantly enhance the country's human capital.

Today, some university students are opting to learn a second language alongside their primary area of specialisation. This too reflects a "brain gain," as not all these students will end up working abroad.

Overseas job recruitment exercise will be a boon to the Kenyan economy. This indicates that, under the current economic conditions, emigration is unlikely to harm Kenya's development.

However, the question remains: When will Kenyan emigrants choose to return home? While this is a complex issue, strong institutions and political accountability could change the narrative within a decade. In the meantime, policymakers must monitor trends in key sectors to mitigate potential "brain strain" while maximizing the benefits of this evolving global dynamic.

Labour CS Dr. Alfred Mutua holds an interactive meeting with Private Agencies to review the 1st Phase of the Nationwide Recruitment Program

While some Kenyans celebrate these efforts, others are outraged, labelling the trend as a "brain drain."