Migration Intentions Research Articles

Sentiments and Migration Intentions in the Western Balkans: Examining the Paradox

ABSTRACT To understand the phenomenon of mgration from the Western Balkans, this paper analyzes the determinants of future migration intentions. Our investigation initially revealed an unexpected relationship between respondent sentiments and their intentions to migrate. To investigate further, an eclectic model was developed incorporating the determinants favored by both the location choice and network approaches. The findings are generally consistent with a priori expectations: a respondents level of satisfaction with their household’s and country’s current and future situation had a significant impact on migration intentions.

Assessment of Key Factors Affecting Farmers' Migration Intentions Due to the Syrian Conflict

This study aims to identify the migration patterns of Syrian farmers in northern Aleppo and to investigate the main factors affecting their migration patterns. In this context, the study data were obtained through face-to-face surveys with a total of 210 farmers from 17 villages in three administrative districts of Aleppo Governorate using a proportional sampling method. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model. According to the results of the study, education level, land size, and household income were found to decrease the tendency to migrate. On the other hand, the factors that increase the tendency of farmers to migrate include being temporarily settled in the region and having family members abroad as refugees. As the war-induced environment has reduced participation in non-agricultural work, more farmers consider agriculture as their main source of livelihood.

The Impact of Financial and Non-Financial Rewards on Employee Migration Intentions in Lagos Banking Sector

The Nigerian banking sector has been facing a significant exodus of skilled employees in recent times which has continued to threaten the sector's development. However, despite numerous studies to address this phenomenon, fewer empirical studies have explored how financial and non-financial rewards impact the migration intention of employees in the banking sector in Nigeria. This study therefore examines how reward systems including financial and non-financial affect the migration intention of employees in Lagos banking sector. A cross-sectional design with purposive and proportionate sampling was adopted for the study. The purposive sampling was adopted to select eight banks in the Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos, Nigeria while a proportionate sampling was used to sample the respondents to ensure adequate representation across the banks. A structured questionnaire was used for collecting data from a sample size of 99 which was determined from a population of 131 in the selected banks using the Yamane formula. However, only 89 responses were obtained across the selected banks and were then statistically analysed using descriptive statistics for the socio-demographic data. Correlation with multiple regressions was utilised for hypothesis testing at a 5% significance level and the study found that both financial and non-financial rewards significantly affect employees’ migration intention. Therefore, the management of banks should improve on the existing financial reward systems to make them more globally competitive as this would enhance talented employees’ retention and reduce employees’ migration intention in the banks.

Influence of social media and the digital environment on international migration of health workforce from low- and middle-income countries post COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionMigration of the health workforce from low- and middle-income countries (LMCIs) is increasingly becoming a phenomenon of interest within migration governance systems. The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated health workforce shortages that...

Sea turtles stranded ashore: Sociocultural dissonance and identity conflicts in migration intentions of Chinese international student returnees

In the post-COVID-19 era, Chinese international student returnees are facing greater identity conflicts during their reintegration. Understanding their sociocultural and ideological identity negotiation will better accommodate their needs and facilitate their integration into society. This study explored identity conflicts experienced by Chinese student returnees across ecological systems after reentry to China during COVID-19. A qualitative approach was used with 20 returnees. The key findings of this study reveal multi-layered conflicts stemming from the discordance between traditional Eastern values and newly acquired Western perspectives across meso-to-macro systems. In addition, important factors corresponding to returnees’ social capital were identified during the acculturation. Coping mechanisms and migration intentions were observed to vary distinctly among the identified identity clusters. Individuals with a "homestayer" identity, characterized by a deep commitment to integrating with the Chinese community and a higher level of perceived social capital in China, predominantly employed positive coping strategies, such as behavioral adaptation. This group exhibited a strong inclination to remain in China. Conversely, those with a "wayfarer" identity, who experienced deeper immersion in foreign cultures and displayed critical views towards Chinese society with a perceived low social capital in China, tended to adopt negative coping strategies like social withdrawal, correlating with a pronounced intention to migrate. Finally, "navigators", who skillfully balance their native Chinese and foreign cultural identities and effectively manage transnational engagements and diverse cultural norms through their perceived strong social capital in both societies, demonstrated a tendency towards hybrid coping strategies tailored to individual scenarios, reflecting a nuanced, case-by-case approach. This group exhibited a mixed migration intention, indicative of their flexible identity orientation. These findings suggest the need for multi-level support systems and policies that not only facilitate returnee identity continuity but also foster an inclusive and diverse societal framework to effectively retain this valuable population.

Gender Differences in the Migration Process: A Narrative Literature Review

AbstractMigration scholars agree that migration is a highly gendered process. While the literature on this topic is increasing, the knowledge produced remains fragmentary and has not been synthesized systematically yet. This literature review aims at summarizing the current findings of quantitative migration research comparing migration patterns between genders and highlighting gaps and patterns in the literature over time. Following a reproducible and systematic approach, 6032 articles have been scanned and 170 were considered for in‐depth content analysis. The review of the literature revealed that women have a lower propensity than men to realize their migration aspirations conditional on migration intentions. Moreover, many articles analyzing migration flows by gender do not support the common narrative of a feminization of migration. Finally, evidence from the migration literature supports the assumption that migrant women experience a double burden of discrimination in the destination country labor market based on their gender and their migration status. It becomes apparent that gender‐based comparisons between migration outcomes have received the most attention in the literature followed by the comparison of determinants. The stage of the journey received only little attention. This literature review also focuses on the data sources used to produce our knowledge on gender differences in the migration process. Thereby, it stands out that the majority of papers rely on survey data for the analysis. Digital trace data are a promising source for gender‐disaggregated data and can potentially complement the scarce aggregate migration data landscape.

Health labor force exodus: A systematic review of drivers influencing nurses’ migration intentions from source countries

The global shortage of nurses has resulted in the demand for their services across different jurisdictions causing migration from developing to developed regions. This study aimed to review the literature on drivers of nurses’ migration intentions from source countries and offer future research directions. A search strategy was applied to ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus academic databases to find literature. The search was limited to peer-reviewed, empirical studies published in English from 2013–2023 resulting in 841 papers. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to conduct a systematic review of 35 studies after thorough inclusion and exclusion criteria. In addition, the VOSviewer software was utilized to map network visualization of keywords, geographic and author cooperation for bibliometric understanding. The findings revealed various socio-economic, organizational, and national factors driving nurses’ migration intentions. However, limited studies have been conducted on family income, organizational culture, leadership style, infrastructure development, social benefits, emergency service delivery, specialized training, and bilateral agreements as potential drivers for informing nurses’ migration intentions. Moreover, a few studies were examined from a theoretical perspective, mainly the push and pull theory of migration. This paper contributes to the health human resources literature and shows the need for future studies to consider the gaps identified in the management and policy direction of nurse labor migration.

Correction to: First Impressions Matter: Feeling Welcome and Onward Migration Intentions of Highly Skilled Migrants

Correction to: First Impressions Matter: Feeling Welcome and Onward Migration Intentions of Highly Skilled Migrants

Climate Change Induced Saltwater Intrusion and Migration Intentions in the Mekong Delta

Climate Change Induced Saltwater Intrusion and Migration Intentions in the Mekong Delta

Migration intentions in a politically divided context: The interactive roles of affective polarization and dyadic political attitudes

AbstractThis study examines migration intentions in a politically divided context, focusing on the interactive roles of individuals’ and the spouses’ affective polarization and political attitudes. Our study uses Hong Kong as a case study to elucidate migration intentions in the context of political polarization and increasing authoritarianism. We investigate how individuals facing the same political conditions exhibit varying inclinations to migrate. Our analysis is based on dyadic data from a representative household survey involving 1003 married couples. The findings reveal that spousal pro‐democratic attitudes and affective polarization are associated with stronger migration intentions, with significant implications for predicting migration patterns. Moreover, the study highlights the significance of the interactive role between individuals’ and the spouses’ political attitudes in shaping migration intentions. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between dyadic political attitudes, affective polarization, and migration intentions in highly developed societies with advanced economies.

Exploring the urban-rural dichotomies in post-pandemic migration intention: Empirical evidence from Europe

Since the beginning of the 21st century, we have been living in the ‘urban century’, characterised by a rise in the number of cities and mega-cities and a structural population increase in most cities, to the detriment of rural areas. Given the declining interest in rurality, the aims and scope of this paper are to map out the complex force field of rurality versus urbanity, and explore if the COVID pandemic has become a ‘game changer’ that thus may swift the existing patterns. Relying on multilevel modelling, to also account for between-country differences, and using Eurobarometer data on post-pandemic migration intention in both rural and urban areas, our results do not find support for a major post-covid urban exodus. Younger individuals from large cities are indeed more willing to leave for rural areas when they are convinced that they can play an active role in the local decision-making process. Teleworking, as well as EU concrete actions for addressing environmental issues, may also drive more migration toward rural areas. On the other hand, poor access to health services may push individuals towards urban areas. In policy terms, our findings advocate for improving access to public services in rural areas. In addition, the study reinforces the role of the Cohesion Policy to urge the twin transition, as facilitating teleworking and strengthening the environmental commitment were shown to make rural areas more appealing.

Retain in the City, Return Flow, or Blind Direction: A Study on the Differentiation Mechanism of Migrant Workers’ Migration Willingness under the Background of China’s Strategy for Integrated Urban–Rural Development

Against the backdrop of urban–rural integration development in China, the government has further strengthened its support for rural migrant workers’ urban employment and entrepreneurship, as well as their urbanization. Nevertheless, influenced by the current urban–rural development environment and public policies, a portion of rural migrant workers have evolved into two distinct groups: those with clear intentions to settle in cities or return to their hometowns and those trapped in a “neither-nor” situation, who are unable to fully integrate into urban life or seamlessly return to the countryside. This study, based on field investigations conducted in 21 cities across seven major geographical regions in China, reveals a ternary differentiation in migration intentions among rural migrant workers: “Retain in the cities”, “Return flow”, and “Blind direction”. In advancing the urban–rural integration strategy, the “clearly-oriented” groups, choosing to stay or return, can serve as dynamic forces in reconciling resources between urban and rural areas, thereby fostering closer urban–rural ties. Conversely, the “aimless wandering” group, characterized by stagnation, confusion, frequent mobility, and recurrent unemployment, poses numerous negative impacts on urban–rural interaction and coordination, hindering the in-depth integration of urban and rural areas to some extent. Drawing upon the internationally recognized Push-Pull Theory and Social Integration Theory within the field of population migration, this study conducts an empirical analysis of large-scale sample data to explore the characteristic factors and formation mechanisms underlying the “staying”, “returning”, and “blind direction” intentions, with a particular focus on the internal dynamics shaping and evolving the “aimless wandering” group. Finally, grounded in the empirical findings, this study advocates a collaborative approach between the Chinese government and various sectors of society to address the issue by promoting employment guidance, enhancing security measures, and other initiatives that encourage rural migrant workers to either stay in cities or return to their hometowns. It aims to provide policy recommendations for a definitive resolution of the rural migrant worker issue during the crucial period of urban–rural integration development.

Cultural Intelligence and Migration Intentions Among Nursing and Midwifery Students in Southeastern Region of Turkey: A Correlational Study

ABSTRACTAimThis study explores the relationship between cultural intelligence and attitudes towards the intention to migrate among nursing and midwifery students.MethodsUsing a correlational design, data were collected from 804 students through the Student Descriptive Form, The Attitude Scale for Brain Drain in Nursing Students and the Cultural Intelligence Scale. The analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics and AMOS, employing structural equation modelling and analysis of variance.ResultsThe majority of participants were female (84.8%) and Turkish citizens (89.1%). The findings showed that both cultural intelligence levels and attitudes towards brain drain were above average. A positive correlation was identified between cultural intelligence and attitudes towards the intention to migrate.ConclusionEnhancing cultural intelligence through intercultural education, overseas experiences and multilingual proficiency is essential. The study underscores the critical need for policy reforms aimed at improving working conditions in low‐income countries and addressing the challenges posed by the intention to migrate.Implications for the Profession and/or Patient CareIncorporating cultural intelligence training into nursing and midwifery curricula is essential for preparing students to work in multicultural healthcare settings. Educational reforms are needed to equip future healthcare professionals with the skills required for diverse patient care. Additionally, policy interventions aimed at improving working conditions and offering better incentives in low‐income regions are critical to mitigating brain drain by addressing the root causes of migration among skilled healthcare workers.ImpactThe study underscores the role of cultural intelligence in shaping the migration intentions of nursing and midwifery students. It highlights how higher levels of cultural intelligence correlate with more positive attitudes towards migration, suggesting that culturally adept healthcare professionals may be more inclined to seek international opportunities.Reporting MethodThis study adhered to the STROBE guidelines for reporting observational studies.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution.

Exploring the factors affecting undergraduate nursing students' migration intention: A qualitative study

BackgroundThe escalating global nursing shortage, fueled by the migration of healthcare professionals from resource-constrained nations to those with greater economic prosperity, presents a formidable challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. Nepal, grappling with a significant brain drain of its nursing workforce, serves as a poignant illustration of this phenomenon. The departure of skilled nurses not only jeopardizes the country's healthcare quality but also underscores the urgent need to address the underlying educational and systemic deficiencies contributing to this trend. AimThe study aims to explore the early formation of migration intentions among undergraduate nursing students in Nepal and identify key factors influencing their decision to pursue opportunities abroad. DesignA descriptive qualitative research design. SettingsThe study was conducted at two urban nursing colleges in Nepal. ParticipantsSeventeen nursing students in their final year of undergraduate studies. MethodsData were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. ResultsThe thematic analysis unearthed four principal themes: (1) Aspirations Beyond Borders: Structural and Systemic Catalysts; (2) Navigating Personal Ambitions; (3) Socio-Political Currents Influencing Career Pathways; (4) Economic Incentives and Realities: Weighing the Prospects. ConclusionThe study's findings highlight the need for systemic changes to retain nursing professionals in Nepal. There is a significant gap between policy initiatives aimed at improving the status of nursing and the persistent challenges nursing students face. This gap fosters disillusionment and drives migration intentions. The research underscores the urgent need to address systemic deficiencies, empower nurses, and ensure equitable recognition. These actions are crucial to cultivating a sustainable nursing workforce dedicated to advancing health equity.

Employment Quality and Migration Intentions: A New Perspective from China’s New-Generation Migrant Workers

This study explores the factors influencing the migration intentions of the new generation of migrant workers from the perspective of employment quality. Utilizing differential analysis, correlation analysis, and the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) model, this study analyzes data on hukou transfer intention obtained through an exploratory questionnaire survey. The results indicate significant differences in migration intentions among new-generation migrant workers differentiated by job industry, job position, gender, household registration type, and housing type. Additionally, age, the number of local family members, and housing satisfaction are strongly correlated with migration intentions. Path analysis reveals that employment stability, income–expenditure match, and social integration significantly positively affect migration intentions. This research provides a unique perspective on employment quality and offers theoretical foundations for policies related to migrant workers’ hukou transfer intention.

First Impressions Matter: Feeling Welcome and Onward Migration Intentions of Highly Skilled Migrants

AbstractIn the context of the global competition for highly skilled migrants, policy makers follow different approaches to attract and retain this highly sought-after group. One common assumption is that the establishment of a welcoming culture can facilitate the retention of highly skilled migrants. Relatively little is known, however, about the impact such policies can have on highly skilled migrants’ decisions to remain in the destination country. We address this gap by analysing the association between feeling welcome and highly skilled migrants’ spatial intentions. We use a mixed methods approach that combines a survey conducted among highly skilled migrants in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (n = 410) and two rounds of semi-structured interviews (wave 1: n = 67; wave 2: n = 49). Our results suggest that respondents who feel welcome are more likely to have the intention to stay in the region permanently. This association is stronger for migrants with relatively more agency. The paper underlines the importance of early experiences in the host country and the role of subjective and intangible factors like feeling welcome in migration decision-making.

Undeterred: Understanding Repeat Migration in Northern Central America

Executive Summary U.S. efforts to control unauthorized crossings of its southwest border have long rested on the idea of deterrence — if migrants know that a border is dangerous to cross and the likelihood of deportation is high, they will be dissuaded from trying in the first place. Despite the seemingly intuitive logic of this strategy, and the billions of dollars invested in it, deterrence efforts largely have failed, with the number of border crossings in recent years exceeding those of 30 years ago. To understand why this decades-old, bipartisan deterrence strategy has proven ineffective, we focus on individuals from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who have previous migration experience, with a vast majority of them seeking entry into the U.S. These individuals have direct knowledge of the difficulties and dangers a border crossing poses, yet many report plans to try to cross the border again. To understand why they persist, we rely on survey data specifically collected to better understand the root causes of international migration. We find that citizens with previous migration experience are significantly more likely to report plans to emigrate, in particular women, younger cohorts, and those at the bottom of the economic ladder. In contrast, family reunification does not appear to play a significant role in driving the migration intentions of those with a prior migration experience. Further, deportation does not deter migrants from trying again, as individuals who have been deported are just as likely to report plans to emigrate again as those who returned to their home countries voluntarily and those who never reached their destination. Most importantly, our research indicates that human insecurity is at the core of why Central Americans who have migrated in the past are more likely to report migration plans for the future. Both the threat of violence and food insecurity are central drivers of their persistent predisposition to embark on the journey again. Individuals remain undeterred in their efforts to escape their country because upon returning to that country, they confront the same conditions that led them to attempt to flee in the first place. We draw two main policy implications from our research. First, the U.S. government should continue its prioritization of investments in tackling the root causes of forced migration through the empowerment of civil society organizations and the channeling of foreign aid to marginalized communities affected by human insecurity, such as those suffering food insecurity or fearing violence. The main objective of these investments should be to improve the living conditions of individuals, giving them a viable option of remaining in their country. Second, the U.S. must invest greater resources in its immigration system to reduce the current backlog of asylum cases, and expand H2-a and -b visa programs to provide a more expansive legal path to migration. Facilitating a legal pathway to immigrants who face heightened human insecurity, like the potential repeat migrants in our study, would prevent further deaths that lay at the hands of a border policy focused on deterrence.

Migration Intentions, Practice Environment, and Satisfaction among Nigerian Nurses: A Case Study

Background: Nursing workforce migration is a function of the nursing practice environment and satisfaction with the general situation of their country of practice. There is a need to provide empirical data on the intent to migrate among nurses and satisfaction with the working environment in Nigeria.Purpose: This study assessed migration intention, favorability of practice environment, and level of satisfaction with the Nigerian environment among nurses in a private teaching hospital in Nigeria.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited participants using a simple random sampling technique. In all, 124 nurses participated in the study. Data was collected using the migration intention questionnaire, nursing practice environment scale, and satisfaction with Nigeria environment questionnaire. All ethical principles were adhered to. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean and standard deviation) were used. Results: An overwhelming majority (95.2%) have the intention to migrate to other countries with 63.6% of them already in the migration process. Canada (34.8%) and the United Kingdom (33.9%) were the most sought-after countries. Nurse manager ability, leadership, and support scored highest on the favourability of the nursing practice environment (2.92±0.80) while staffing and resources inadequacy has the lowest score (2.63±0.68). Overall, 75.8% of the nurses describe their practice environment as favourable. Political conflicts and wars are the most dissatisfying areas of Nigeria's environment. Also, the majority 61.3% were dissatisfied with the Nigerian environment.Conclusion: The majority of the nurses who participated in the study are planning to migrate to another country. The majority of the nurses are not satisfied with Nigeria’s environment and they opined that their practice environment is unfavourable. There is a need to make the nursing practice environment more favorable to the nurses.

Examining user migration intention from social Q&A communities to generative AI

As an emerging application, generative AI has attracted many users to conduct question and answer (Q&A), which may lead to their defection from social Q&A communities. Based on the push-pull-mooring (PPM) model, this research examined user migration intention from social Q&A communities to generative AI. Data were analyzed using a mixed method of SEM and fsQCA. The results revealed that migration intention is influenced by a combination of push factors (information overload and community fatigue), pull factors (perceived anthropomorphism, perceived accuracy, perceived trustworthiness, and flow experience), and mooring factor (social influence). The fsQCA results identified three main paths leading to migration intention. These results imply that Q&A communities need to reduce information overload and mitigate users’ fatigue in order to retain them and achieve a sustainable development.

Cost benefit of academic mobility, brain drain and migration: Western balkans in a crossroad

BACKGROUND: In recent years, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo have witnessed a notable increase in the number of skilled individuals, including healthcare professionals, seeking employment outside the country. OBJECTIVE: This paper’s research objective is to determine the factors influencing the brain drain of young individuals who work abroad based on the migration push and pull factors of healthcare professionals in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. METHODS: This paper combines a qualitative and quantitative research design. Data was generated via a questionnaire addressed to 300 young healthcare professionals. In addition, logistic regression was selected to evaluate future migration intentions. RESULTS: One of this paper’s main findings is that young healthcare professionals cannot make a sound judgment on whether remuneration in the destination country will improve their situation. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of accounting literacy is one of the main factors in young professionals’ poor judgment. The negative correlation between home country opportunities and migration intentions appeals to significant reforms in the health care sector to deter brain drain from the Western Balkan region.