“Despite today’s high unemployment rates, the global talent risk is growing. […] Now, human capital is replacing financial capital as the engine of economic prosperity”(1). As more reports point to the link between demographic deficit in the labour force and the need for talent in Europe, mobility is deemed as a major vehicle for brain circulation, which may lead to innovation and economic growth for the region(2). As a result, there is an on-going emphasis placed by major stakeholders on the need to increase the levels of highly skilled mobility in Europe, which has been accompanied by a number of measures, including regulations and programmes aimed at facilitating the mobility process in the European Union (EU). However, how much do we actually know about the challenges and opportunities across sectors for a mobile and highly skilled population, in particular regarding professional women’s integration into the labour market? This question serves as a catalyst in launching a survey on highly skilled women and mobility in the European Union as part of a research initiative that aims at learning from the experience of these highly skilled professional women – jobseekers, employed persons or self-employed/entrepreneurs– with respect to their integration into the labour market in the EU. I would like to take this opportunity to kindly request the participation and support of those professionals matching the following profile:
· Women;
· EU citizens;
· Highly skilled (i.e., university graduate – have a tertiary education);
· Have moved to another EU Member States;
· Jobseeker, employed persons or self-employed/entrepreneurs.
The survey is anonymous and if you match this profile and would like to contribute to this initiative, please visit the Survey Mobility-Highly Skilled page above.
(1) Global Talent Risk: Seven Response, World Economic Forum, 2011
(2) World Economic Forum, OECD, European Commission reports and communication on employment.
Highly Skilled Migrant Women 