Saying we want brain gain and actually doing something about it are two different things

Saying we want brain gain and actually doing something about it are two different things

April 27, 2026

On Friday, April 24, I spoke at the office with a young colleague who has actually returned to the islands. We didn’t go into much depth — something for a follow-up conversation. But the Career Orientation Days in the Netherlands did come up. They were taking place as we spoke.

I had the opportunity to attend the first three to five editions as a manager at a Big Six firm back in the 1990s. At the time, the initiative came from students, who invited companies and government organizations to participate in a job fair. In those early years, we did manage to recruit and bring back a number of talented individuals. But it didn’t take long before the more perverse aspects became visible. It turned into a rather luxurious affair: large delegations, good hotels, and high costs. The question of return on investment became increasingly difficult to answer.

Back to April 24. I was in touch with Anthony about a former colleague of his who was trying to reach me. In passing, he mentioned that he was walking around the fair, networking.

Later that afternoon, I read a post by Mariano on Facebook:

Pone un paro purá na e bolsanan pa buska trahadó manera Carrière Oriëntatiedagen.

Un engaño.

Berguensa.

The reactions left little to the imagination. Many were skeptical. Comments focused on the limited results of such an expensive initiative. On the absence of the basic conditions needed to actually bring young people back, such as affordable housing. And on the recurring practice of appointing retirees to positions that should, in principle, create opportunities for a new generation.

That last point may be the most troubling of all. Because what message does that send?

The conclusion is hard to avoid: if we truly want young people to return, we need to be more serious and more consistent. That effort does not start in a hotel in the Netherlands, but here, with proper conditions, faster and more transparent procedures, and a genuine willingness to make room for young talent.

I still hear too many stories about recruitment processes that take close to a year. At that point, it should not come as a surprise that people lose interest.

As long as we fail to address these basics, “brain gain” will remain little more than a convenient slogan — not a serious strategy.

Miguel Goede