Global talent finds new homes as the US loses its pull

Openings abroad

The movement is driven by practical factors. US visa rules and policy uncertainty have created barriers for foreign students and workers who want to move there. Over the past two decades, tuition and fees at US public universities have increased by about 80%, while household incomes grew by around 16%. 

And while US companies remain innovative, their ability to hire the people who could drive that innovation has weakened, as it has become harder for foreign graduates to stay and work compared with other countries. The annual cap on new H-1B work visas has been fixed at 85,000 since 2006, even as applications have risen sharply. Nearly half a million were filed last year, far more than can be filled.

In the meantime, many economies have built faster and clearer routes for skilled people to study and work, although some, such as Canada and Australia, are tightening certain rules in response to rising migration and housing pressures.

IMD data show that scores on brain drain – a measure of how secure countries feel about retaining talent – have fluctuated across several economies. The US, however, recorded one of the sharpest declines of all between 2024 and 2025.

Other economies are responding in different ways:

• Canada uses openness and integration. Its Global Talent Stream allows employers to hire skilled workers in about two weeks, much faster than the usual process. It includes technical jobs like engineers, data analysts, and computer programmers. Canada has work-permit programmes that let graduates stay and work after finishing their studies – experience that can help them qualify for permanent residency. The country rose eight places in IMD’s World Talent Ranking between 2024 and 2025, moving from 19th to 11th. It scored well for education and the availability of skilled workers, but faces rising living costs that could make it harder to stay competitive.
• Singapore combines a well-developed education system with political stability and a location that links major Asian economies with the West. The city-state ranks second globally for future readiness – the ability of its workforce to adapt to change – and remains one of the easiest places to do business in the world. Its challenge is cost: housing and living expenses have risen sharply in recent years, making it harder for people to move there and settle long-term.
• The UAE offers fast visa approvals and strong financial incentives, including tax-free income. Long-term ‘golden’ and ‘green’ visas allow people to apply for permits on their own instead of through an employer. High living standards have drawn workers from many sectors, and governments across the region are using this inflow of talent to support plans to diversify their rich economies beyond oil. The UAE rose from 17th to ninth in IMD’s 2025 World Talent Ranking, showing clear gains in attracting and retaining skilled workers.
• Malaysia attracts students and companies with low living and operating costs – plus a large pool of science and engineering graduates, with more than 40% of students in the country earning STEM degrees. Its challenge is to retain the talent it produces; however, many young professionals still leave for higher wages abroad.

These four nations show there is no single model for drawing talent, but all rely on clear rules, stable governance, and strong links between education and employment – the same strengths that used to set the US apart.