A dynamic labor market, competitive wages, and a leading position in both higher education and knowledge infrastructure are all important aspects to attract highly skilled migrants. The Netherlands scores well on all of these points. Only the United States and Switzerland scored higher than the Netherlands according to highly skilled migrants.
This emerges from the survey ´What moves highly skilled migrants’ carried out by SEO Economic Research in 11 OECD countries, which was sent to the Dutch House of Representatives by the Minister for Economic Affairs, Maria van der Hoeven on Monday, 31 May 2010. “The Netherlands is doing well, but we have to devote ourselves to remaining attractive, and becoming even more attractive for highly educated knowledge migrants. The knowledge infrastructure is an important factor in achieving this goal,” stated the minister in her letter to the House of Representatives.

Enterprising knowledge migrants
Employment and career are the most important motives to come to the Netherlands. The total number of highly skilled migrants is 26,000. Often knowledge migrants are seconded by their employer (37 percent). Others (32 percent), such as technicians and engineers, possess knowledge and skills that are employable and desirable worldwide. They migrate to destinations where their qualities are most appreciated. Scientists often choose the locations where they can best perform their research activities, and where the most money and flexibility is available.. Enterprising knowledge migrants look for opportunities, and are mostly attracted to places offering those prospects, without being hampered by legislation and regulations.

Knowledge infrastructure
For researchers, the knowledge infrastructure is the most important aspect in their location choice. Additionally, an attractive living environment plays an important role. Students can also get involved  through international exchange programs offered by governments, universities and scholarships. Nearly half of the knowledge migrants come from Asia, 11 percent from North America. Asians are often seconded by their employer, even though their choice for the Netherlands is often voluntary. Knowledge migrants are relatively young (40 percent is under 30), and often male (57 percent). They are positive in their judgment of the Netherlands. They are slightly less positive on their financial situation than on the attractiveness of the living environment. Often, they have also considered moving to the United States or the United Kingdom.

‘Competitors’
Germany, Canada and Australia are also mentioned as competitors of the Netherlands in the migration decision. Some 40 percent of knowledge migrants do not know yet where they would like to live in the near future; around 25 percent intends to extend their residence permit for the Netherlands and 15 percent intends to apply for a long-term residence permit.

Source: NFIA