Job integration of highly-skilled Romanian migrants in Italy

Maria Carolina Brandi, Istituto di ricerche sulla Popolazione e le Politiche Sociali (IRPPS)
Maria Girolama Caruso, Istituto di ricerche sulla Popolazione e le Politiche Sociali (IRPPS)
Loredana Cerbara, Istituto di ricerche sulla Popolazione e le Politiche Sociali (IRPPS)

A global market now exists for an ever-increasing number of highly qualified occupations, professional expertise can be bought and sold at the world level (Iredale, 1999) and the industrialized countries have begun to compete to attract highly qualified migrants (Cobb-Clark, Connolly, 1997). Indeed the opportunity of hiring high quality human capital without having to pay the cost of a long training period represents an important competitive advantage for national economies. Brain waste is a widespread phenomenon. The survey examines the working and social insertion of highly qualified migrants in Italy from Eastern European countries, in particular Romania, focusing on the correct use of their skills, the problems associated with the recognition of their educational qualifications and access to the professions. The survey also sets out to assess the current impact of these migration flows on the Italian economy and its likely development over the next few years.