Mobility motivations and experiences of highly skilled Latvians abroad

The aim of this paper is to analyse career migration of the highly skilled from Latvia in the context of post-accession migration since the EU enlargement of 2004. Based on secondary analysis of survey data, the study addresses three empirical questions: What are the motives of these highly skilled migrants, both for the initial migratory move and future mobility? What are the structural factors influencing the decisions of the highly skilled? What kinds of jobs do they actually obtain, and how do they get those jobs? The theoretical framework of the study is a synthesis of several theories, taking into account and testing the concept of liquid migration and its applicability to the career migration of the highly skilled from Latvia. The data analysis demonstrates that the concept of liquid migration does not characterise most typical migration patterns from Latvia, especially the migration patterns of the highly skilled in STEM areas. Contrary to the dominant characteristics of liquid migration, the highly skilled often choose long-term settlement and register abroad as employees.