This Week's Herman Trend Alert Demand-Driven Workforce Development

The Herman Trend Alert September 5, 2007 Global and Domestic Brain Drains Revisited On numerous occasions in 1999, 2004, and 2006, we have written about "brain drains", from individual cities as well as the entire country (the United States). Here is an update. First domestically, smaller cities like Council Bluffs, Iowa and Lynchburg, Virginia continue to be challenged to hold their young people after graduation. The city leaders say, "We are a great place to raise a family, so sometimes we get back our graduates, when they are ready to settle down, but we want and need to have these young people after college as well. Even if we can get them to stay for a short time, they invariably leave for more 'exciting' environments." Greensboro, North Carolina used to be challenged in the same way. Employers would complain that attracting young, single A-players to the town was almost impossible. Now, Greensboro is a different place. It now sports more theatres, more night clubs, more comedy clubs, a stadium, and an increasing number of better restaurants. It even has a green hotel (The Proximity) expected to open this fall. Greensboro embraced the fascinating research of Richard Florida in his book "The Rise of the Creative Class" to help them in their transition. Not surprisingly, it appears to be working. From a global perspective, we have other challenges to address. In a study released very recently by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurship in Kansas City, that as skilled immigrant workers return to their home countries because of the very limited availability of permanent US resident visas, the US could face a serious "reverse brain-drain". Titled "Intellectual Property, the Immigration Backlog, and a Reverse Brain-Drain," this study is the third in a series focused on immigrants' contributions to the competitiveness of the U.S. economy. The departure of foreign-born innovators would be "detrimental to US economic well-being." The study found that foreign nationals living in the United States were inventors or co-inventors in 25.6 percent of international patent applications filed from the US in 2006, up from 7.6 percent in 1998. The United States' loss will certainly mean gains for Asia and South America. © Copyright 1998-2008 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND! If you've been thinking about attending our valuable Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program, don't delay--only three spaces remain. With the employment market heating up, many positions are literally impossible to fill. Attend this course and you will learn dozens of low-/no-cost valuable strategies to attract and retain the talent you need. Recertification credit from HRCI. Next program: May 22-23, Charleston, SC. Call Carol at 336-282-9370 or visit http://www.employeeretentionspecialist.com. GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES Find out what's really going on inside the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-648-1918 or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. NEW BABY BONUS Book Joyce to speak on the West Coast in 2008 and receive 100 of her books of your choosing. There is a new baby in the family, Spencer Jay, and Joyce would appreciate more opportunities to watch him grow. For more about Joyce, visit http://www.hermangroup.com/joyce.html or call Joyce at 336-210-3548. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

[ Home · About · Products · Telebridge · Resources · Media ]

Web site design by WebEditor Design Services, Inc.