The paper explores the challenges and evolving workforce opportunities for highly educated immigrants in economically advanced countries, particularly within the OECD. Despite having higher educational attainment than many native-born citizens, these immigrants often face “brain waste,” where their skills are underutilized due to barriers like undervaluation of foreign credentials, lack of language skills, and discrimination against foreigners. This underemployment not only affects individual income and job satisfaction but also has broader economic implications, such as slower growth and reduced tax contributions. The paper emphasizes that credential recognition is crucial for immigrants to work in their fields of training. However, the process is often complex and varies by country. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted some changes, with governments and licensing bodies becoming more flexible. For example, some U.S. states have eased licensing requirements for foreign-trained doctors and teachers to address workforce shortages. “Microcredentials” and online education have emerged as significant tools for immigrants to quickly gain recognized qualifications. Microcredentials are typically short, nondegree, certified learning courses that lead to a certificate or badge and, with additional credentials or courses, may lead to a larger credential.The rise of microcredentials reflects a shift towards skills-based hiring, which benefits both immigrants and employers by addressing specific labor market needs. Overall, the paper suggests that while challenges remain, recent policy innovations and the expansion of microcredentials offer new pathways for highly skilled immigrants to integrate into the workforce.
Highly Skilled Immigrants Face a Changing Landscape for Credential Recognition,
Migration Policy Institute, November 14, 2024, 6 pp.
Author: Lee Kreimer