Brain Drain: Propensity to Leave by Malaysian Professionals

Abstract

Globalisation has led to the fierce competition for skilled labor between firms and thus leading to intense labor mobility worldwide. Shortfall in professionals in host countries has led organizations on a rampant search for foreign professionals needed to fill up the gap in their own country. Most commonly observed is the outflow of professionals from developing countries to the developed nations more often than not at the expense of the developing countries. Malaysia is one developing country which is not spared from this phenomenon that is detrimental to the economy. Malaysian professionals are heavily sought after because they are able to adapt themselves anywhere in the world, multi-lingual and inexpensive. Malaysian professionals are steadfastly flowing out to fill the soaring demands abroad. If this situation were to continue, Malaysia would have to endure a shortage of professionals within the country. Approaches to offset this phenomenon have to be carried out immediately. Thus the present study examined the relationship between the push-pull factors and propensity to leave which eventually may lead to Brain Drain. Seeing that brain drain of our Malaysian professionals will continue to go on which definitely will have an impact on our transformation, the responsibility to keep this situation in check has fallen on our shoulders.