Who returns? Understanding experiences of graduate return to rural island communities

Abstract

High levels of out-migration of young people from rural and island communities has provoked significant concern around experiences of “brain drain”. However, recent research has shown that many young people who leave rural communities hold intentions or aspirations to return to their communities in the future. Although research has identified intentions to return in young people leaving rural communities, and has identified patterns of return in older migrants, the experience of young returnees, and specifically young graduates has received very little attention. This paper seeks to address this gap by exploring the phenomenon of return migration to the Scottish islands of Orkney and Shetland by recent graduates (within a year of graduation). Where previous research has identified the importance of employment and relationships in return migration, the findings from this project identify that it is how the dynamics of career and relationships interweave over time that creates specific spatial horizons. Drawing out the findings into a typology of graduate returners, this paper indicates the variety of experiences of graduate return and identifies a potential need for greater support of some graduate returners.