The investigation of international emigration of the highly-skilled Bruneians: the national dilemma

Brunei Darussalam, despite its oil-driven prosperity and social stability, faces rising unemployment and limited job diversification, creating a national dilemma: to retain highly skilled citizens for nation-building or allow their emigration to reduce unemployment and boost global competitiveness. This study investigates the international emigration of skilled Bruneians, exploring structural and cultural factors shaping their decisions. Methodology/Approach: Focusing on qualitative data, both secondary and primary data were used as part of the research, where the primary data were collected through a series of interviews with policy makers and academics in gaining their insights on the idea of international emigration among Bruneians. Findings: The analysis through this research revealed that the potential to the normalization of skilled migration among Bruneians highly depend on the economic performance of the country. However, on the acceptance of migration, although majority of the respondents from this research support the idea of migration due to the domestic challenges, most expressed that they would only consider if it were a short-term migration or a ‘temporary learning experience’. This mindset is influenced by few factors such as the sense of patriotism among the Bruneians and as well as the Malay-close knit culture and commitments. Originality/Value: To date, there has not been any research that explores the situation of international emigration of the highly skilled Bruneians. The study suggests that managed mobility, through policies promoting temporary migration and reintegration, can align skilled migration with Wawasan Brunei 2035, fostering a workforce that is globally competent yet nationally committed in order to enhance and increase the quality of Bruneians.