In her presentation, Alvarez-Buylla highlighted that Mexico has the second-highest talent migration level in the world after India, with over 1.4 million highly skilled Mexicans abroad. Of those who studied with a CONACYT scholarship between 2000 and 2014, 45.3% of postgraduates and 49.4% of those with doctorates did not return.
The budget for scientific research and development has been reduced systematically during the current administration.
Low productivity and the size of the informal sector will continue to limit the economy’s ability to absorb highly educated workers.
Highly skilled migration will remain fuelled by the USMCA, which retained visa provisions for professionals introduced by NAFTA.
As long as crime, violence, corruption and impunity remain unabated, Mexico’s brain drain will continue, particularly in the case of women.
