Exodus of Youth from Kazakhstan: Strategies to Retain Talent
Digging deep into the burning issue of brain drain plaguing Kazakhstan, experts grilled this topic on the wildly popular talk show "Why?" on "31 channel". The crux of the discussion revolved around the exodus of intelligent, educated Kazakhs, and the desperate need to halt this disturbing trend.
According to cold, hard stats from the International Organization for Migration, every third expatriate hailing from the nation is ethnic Kazakh. More troublingly, a quarter of these emigrants are the nation's promising youngsters (aged 15 to 28). It's downright alarming that the vast majority of those leaving the country (77%) have higher education – the very individuals who could significantly propel Kazakhstan's development. They couldlend their expertise as scientists, teachers, doctors, engineers, or effective civil servants, create jobs by starting businesses, and overall contribute to a brighter and more prosperous future for the nation.
The panellists in the studio couldn't agree more on the root causes for the Kazakh diaspora: people are leaving to pursue education, self-actualization, and a more fulfilling life.
Journalist and English language specialist Talgat Daleelgazy shed light on the reasons for this mass exodus:
"Reasons include joblessness and paltry wages. People leave to secure better employment opportunities. Another major reason is the thirst for education. Personally, I left for top-notch education that Kazakhstan was unable to provide."
One crucial element is the fear for the future of their progeny. Often, the decision to emigrate doesn't even necessitate a guarantee of superior education or well-paying jobs in the adopted country. These individuals are even willing to venture into the unknown, even illegally, as media analyst Nurbek Matjan, who lived in the US for several years, attested:
"Someone leaving their home country for the first time knows they'll only find menial work. They have no relatives or friends there. But they believe their children will flourish later, so they still go. I can't blame them. In my opinion, it's wrong to tie a person to just one country in today's world. A person has the right to choose where to reside."
Recently, the allure of South Korea has become potent, thanks to its visa-free travel policy. The draw? Job opportunities, albeit often illegally, and a daily wage (for an illegal Kazakhstani worker) that's nothing short of astronomical by Kazakhстан standards. Farkhad Ibadulla, a Kazakhstani labor migrant, currently working illegally in the country, shared his insights:
"Of course, we all dream of returning home. We yearn for our families, our homeland. But hunger won't be appeased with longing. We face difficulties as undocumented workers, but there's no other choice."
Writer Aigul Mantai, who lived in Moscow for seven years, voiced unwavering support for the intrepid Kazakhs who brave adversity to provide for their families abroad:
"Sadly, they can't find decent jobs in Kazakhstan. Officially, the average wage is 220,000 tenge, but experts say this doesn't truly reflect most people's earnings. Kindergarten workers, for instance, earn a mere 50-60,000 tenge a month – the same as an illegal worker in South Korea earns in just a single day. TV show host Erkhanat Kopzhassar brilliantly pointed out that many akimat workers (local government officials) earn no more than 100,000 tenge a month."
Mantai believes that if the state truly cared for its citizens, it would stop squandering money on unnecessary image projects and instead focus on tackling the root causes of emigration. "Power is estranged from its people. Why criticize these citizens for leaving to feed their families?" she asked.
Nurbek Matjan highlighted another reason for emigration – a lack of faith in the future:
"Why would someone leave if everything was peachy in their homeland? Sadly, they don't see long-term viability here. Their forefathers rest here, their relatives live here. But they don't remain for reasons, darn it!"
In conclusion, brain drain remains a dire threat to Kazakhstan's national security. To stem the tide, it's crucial to value human capital, invest in a robust domestic education and research system, and create a conducive environment for skilled professionals to thrive. Let's empower our people, attract foreign talent, and create a brighter, more prosperous future for all.
In thediscussion on the "Why?" talk show, journalist Talgat Daleelgazy pointed out that one reason for the Kazakh diaspora is the pursuit of education and self-actualization, while media analyst Nurbek Matjan revealed that some individuals are willing to emigrate despite the unknown, as they believe their children will have better opportunities in the future. In terms of finance, it's concerning that 77% of Kazakh emigrants have higher education, which could significantly contribute to the nation's development. Furthermore, general news reports mention that south Korea's visa-free travel policy and high daily wages for illegal workers are attracting Kazakh labor migrants, emphasizing the need for Kazakhstan to invest in education and research to retain its talented citizens and create a conducive environment for skilled professionals.
