Over two-thirds said they recommend their students consider careers outside academia. The majority had delayed hiring in their labs, and one-third had laid off workers. More than one in six said they have lost researchers to institutions in other countries since Trump took office. Sixty-eight percent said funding cuts and federal policy changes had moderately or significantly reduced the scope of their work.
Just this week our prime minister announced that the government is giving police officers new powers to move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour in town and city centres. Breaching an order risks a fine of up to NZ$2,000 or three-month jail term. Instead of investing in infrastructure to support the most vulnerable members of our community, authorities want to sweep the problem under the rug and punish them for it.
On X, a professor from a European university asked why Europe couldn't retain this tech talent. Steinberger replied that most people in the US are enthusiastic, while in Europe, he's scolded about responsibility and regulations. If he built a company in Europe, he would struggle with strict labor regulations and similar rules, he added. At OpenAI, he said most employees work 6 to 7 days a week and are paid accordingly. In Europe, that would be illegal, he added.
Brain drain refers to circumstances in which highly trained experts from underdeveloped and overexploited countries migrate to wealthier international job markets. Such loss of human capital can be catastrophic for a nation's development, as a shortage of trained workers tends to strain critical sectors like healthcare and education. Now the United States government - which once fielded as many as 281,000 scientists and engineers - is experiencing a similar phenomenon.
For a generation, the smartest people I knew dreamed of moving to America. They took uninspiring jobs, learned to wait through endless paperwork, and believed that one visa stamp could change their lives. That belief built an empire of talent that powered some of the world's most iconic companies. And now, that same empire is dying, or at the very least, dreaming of moving elsewhere. Talent is now voting with its feet.
After relocating back to my home in the Midlands, I find clients are reluctant to look further afield than their back gardens. As a working-class creative, I understand that regional pride is something to be celebrated, but navel-gazing only contributes to the brain drain down the M1. When working with cultural clients, if I make reference to things from London or abroad, it's met with defensive disdain.
Although state leaders often emphasize financial achievements, a deeper concern persists as Mississippi continues to lose many of its most highly educated residents, placing the long-term stability and competitiveness of the state's economy in serious jeopardy. The 2020 Census initially reported that Mississippi lost more than 6,000 residents, making it one of only three states to show population decline. But follow-up analysis by the U.S. Census Bureau estimated a major undercount, about 4.11%.
Our Labor Day special offers an in-depth examination of the value of an American higher education for international students and the challenges they now face in studying in the US, amid new visa restrictions. We also hear about American faculty and researchers faced with funding cuts and a potential brain drain. In this edition, we travel to India, Europe and Africa.
