Literature review

The topic on the increase rate at which Guyanese graduates migrate has been brought up into
focus by many researchers, journalists and the concern populace. According to, The Youth
Development and Empowerment Report Guyana (2012) 83% of graduates from the university of
Guyana migrate from Guyana after graduation and 45% below the age of 35 would prefer to live
outside of Guyana. Migration has resulted in a lack of qualified or experienced youths in the
population to take up positions of leadership in all sectors.

Dr.Roopnarine, Lomarsh (2013) Guyana Population Movement and Societal development,

university of Guyana stated in an article that there is a myriad of reasons for Guyanese extra-
regional migration. The most obvious emanated from push/pull factors so commonly operative
between developing and developed countries. Political and economic instability, crime and
overall deteriorating living conditions have pushed Guyanese to move while favorable changing
immigration laws, job opportunities and better living conditions have pulled them to better
destinations in developed countries.

The United Nations World Youth Report (2013) The Impact of Youth Migration posits that
migration is a common feature of the Caribbean society and is a significant factor in the
development of the Caribbean but Research has proven the one of the most serious adverse
effects of migration is human capital flight better known as brain drain, which deprives countries
of origin of the economic and social contributions of their best educated and most highly skilled
citizens.

According to CARICOM Skill-Free Movement in the CARICOM Single Market and

Economy(CSME) which stated that Under the CSME, the free movement of persons across the
Region entails the removal of work permits for the University Graduates, Media Workers, Sports
Persons, Musicians, Artists, Managers, Supervisors and other service providers, which would
tend to attract graduates to these other Caribbean territories to establish a permanent base for
work and residence.

The micro econometric study of emigration from developing countries (Van Dalen et al. 2005)
shows that the enormous differences in income are a major stimulus for moving to developed
countries, The Economic Causes of Migration (2013) with an article stating the large gaps in
mean incomes and wages are obviously a magnet for migration further supporting the Van Dalen
et al publication (2005).

Skilled Labour migration from developing countries: Study on the Caribbean Region(July, 2002)
authored by Professor Elizabeth Thomas-Hope stated that the problem lies in that the demand of
skilled professionals from developed countries are largely met by developing countries triggering
an exodus of their skilled personnel blaming the availability of more jobs in developed countries
which developing countries lack and seek, adding to Elizabeth Thomas-Hope publication came
from the Caribbean Current in an article on Jamaicans and the brain drain(2015) stating that the
incapability to provide jobs for tertiary-level graduates is one of the biggest contributing factors
in the brain drain phenomena to date. If a developing country is unable to provide proper jobs for
the new working class, then people migrate.

Countries such as Guyana have large portions of their population living outside the country and
the region, thereby depriving the country of the talents and skills for further development per (

CAPE Caribbean Studies authored by Jeanette Ottlley, Marolyn Gentles and Veta Dawson
(2013).

Based on a published article in the Guyana Chronicle (2016) any country that cannot keep its
most skilled workers at home would have great difficulty overcoming structural
underdevelopment. That country runs the risk of reproducing mediocrity, while its young people
would have very few role models to emulate in the professions. Guyana would not be able to
adequately compete regionally and globally. Where would our scientists, engineers, economists,
geologists, teachers and broadcasters with the requisite skills come from?

Presentation of data

The main findings of this research were that majority of respondents indicated that there is an
increase in the migration of university graduates from Guyana and it has the presence of some
push factors to be held responsible for this.

Figure 1 showing the percentage of respondents that responded to if they think that there is an
increase in migration of university graduates from Guyana
 Figure 1

Unsure
Unsure; 7%

No No; 10%

Yes Yes; 83%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Column1

The graph above shows that 83 percent of the respondents think that indeed university graduates
are migration from Guyana while 10 present of the sample size think that university graduates
are not leaving. There was an unsure 7% of respondents that are not aware of any migration of
university graduates.

Figure 2 showing the percentage of responses on the factors that contributes to the increase
migration of graduates from the university of Guyana.
 Chart Title
Lack of proper
45% jobs suiting their qualifications

40%

Pull factors
35%form other countries

30%

Political instability
25%
Percentage of responses
20%

High cost of living

15%

10%

Lack of proper infrastructure and facilities to work in

5%

0%

The graph above shows that majority of the graduates (40%) indicated that due to the lack of
jobs suiting their qualifications, have led to an increase in graduate migration, 30% thinks that its
due to pull factors, while 20% blames the high cost of living, 7% of the graduates responded that
the lack of proper infrastructure and facilities is accountable, whilst just 3% of the total sample
body had political instability to be held accountable for the increase in graduate migration.

Table #1 showing the tabulated results collected from the response to the question, In what
ways do you think the country is affected when university graduates migrate.

Responses Percentage of responses

Loss of valuable human resources 50%
Drop of standards at public 27%
facilities/institutions from the lack of
professionals
Can result to a fall of GDP 7%
Increase in imported labor 3%
The employment of lesser qualified persons to 13%
fill positions that require higher qualifications

From the data collected, 50% of the total respondents indicated that the loss of valuable human
resources is the main effect of university graduate migration, 27% point out that the standards of
public facilities will drop, 7% specify the it can result to a fall of GDP, while just 3% taught there
will be an increase in imported labor and 13% indicated that it will led to the employment of
lesser qualified persons to fill higher positions.

Figure 3 showing a graphical representation of the number of respondents that specifically

indicated which pull factors they think that encourage university graduates to migrate to other
countries.
 Figure 3
45%

40%

35%

30%

25%
No. of respondents
20%

15%

10%

5%

0%

Figure 2 shows that 12 of the total respondents indicated that the availability of jobs is the
leading pull factor for university graduates migrating, while 9 indicated that its because of better
living conditions, 2 individuals taught it was of better medical care, 1 respondent assumed it is
because of enforced security, then 6 indicated that it was due to better educational opportunities,
no respondent indicated that the presence of political freedom in other countries posed as a pull
factor for university migrates.

Figure 4 showing the different percentage of respondents that shared their view on measures if
put into place, would be more effective in reducing the increase migration of university
graduates.
 Figure 4

Close the free movement of skilled and qualified professionals among CARICOM

7% 7%
Increase job wages

40%
Provide more jobs with better opportunities 46%

Develop infrastructure to enhance working conditions

According to the results above, majority(46%) of the responses suggest that increasing job wages
would be more effective in reducing the increase in university graduates migration from Guyana,
while 40% suggests that more jobs with better opportunities should be provided, 7% indicated
for the development of infrastructure to enhance working conditions and finally just another 7%
suggested the closing of the free movement of skilled and qualified professionals among
CARICOM.