• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.53-89
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• 2010

Curricula relevant to labor market needs are often designed with the goals of individual employment and regional development at the forefront. This study provided information on regional scope by investigating the extent and determinants of the geographic mobility of vocational high school graduates and the effects of that mobility on first-job wage rates. Geographic mobility was defined as being employed in other provinces in which vocational schools were located. About 38% of graduates were employed in other provinces. Geographic mobility was positively related to gender and human capital such as health, course of study, vocational certificate, and job training. Mobility led to higher wage rates even after controlling for sample selection bias. The implication is that vocational high school curricula which focus excessively on provincial concerns may weaken a workforce's effectiveness.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-27
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• 2006

Recent migration is led by skilled labor, This paper performes a cross-country analysis to find the determinants of skilled migration using recently released Doquier and Marfouk(2005) data as dependent variable and economic indicators of nations as independent variables. Regression results show that the skilled migration to OECD countries are driven not only by income motive but also by structural factors, such as industrial structure and life expectancy, which have broader meanings in development. It is noteworthy that structural factors of a nation become more important as its income level rises. English seems to have positive effect on skilled migration. Some region-specific factors, proximity to USA of Caribbean countries and political instability of Gold Coast countreis, for example, are found. Middle-income countries seem to be the most vulnerable to the possible risk of brain drain.