Parsley warns of simplistic answers to 'brain drain'

12.01.00am GMT Sat 17th Dec 2005

Young Alliance Chair Ian James Parsley has warned that solutions being offered to Northern Ireland's graduate "brain drain" are too simplistic to have any real impact. He said the key is to enable challenging local jobs in all sectors.

The North Down Councillor said: "It is right to focus on the graduate 'brain drain' as a major problem for Northern Ireland. However, the idea that more Northern Ireland people should attend University locally is a simplistic solution which simply will not work.

"Right now in Northern Ireland there are families going through the turmoil of having a son or daughter who, having been away to get some life experience while at University or College, has returned home to find there are simply no jobs available for well-educated young people at graduate or HND level. There are people heading into Christmas wondering how we can talk about 'full-employment' while the best their son or daughter can manage is a part-time job in a bar or a call centre -- that is not what people go through third-level education to achieve! Small wonder so many people, having returned home determined to make a go of it in Northern Ireland, leave again disillusioned at the lack of challenging careers paths available to our best educated people.

"In short, the 'brain drain' happens not at 18, but at 21 or 22. It is quite right that people should leave home at 18 to seek experiences and challenges elsewhere, and even that they should work outside Northern Ireland for some time. The problem is when they return home, there is simply nothing for them.

"The answer therefore lies not in a simplistic call for the 'creation of more University places', but rather in the restructuring of the economy from low-wage to high-wage. The Republic of Ireland offers a good model, albeit one that cannot and should not be copied absolutely, to achieve precisely this.

"The truth is that what was once the 'land of saints and scholars' has now become the 'land of community workers and equality officers'. Until we get to grips with the real desires of top graduates in a competitive, global economy, we will remain lagging behind and the 'brain drain' will continue, regardless of University places."

ENDS