WHY SHOULD I CARE?

You might think it’s not that big a deal that everyone has the right to look for a new life. And that’s true, no one’s denying it. But there’s a reason why the news makes such a fuss about this: because it’s harmful, not just for us but for any region. While there are different types of human capital flight (for example, organizational, when a worker changes from one company to another; or industrial, when they change not just companies but industries as well), here we’ll focus on geographic brain drain: the kind that happens when skilled workers leave their country or region of residence to seek better job opportunities elsewhere.

Let’s first look at some of the causes behind this type of migration:

• The conditions offered by companies: If workers aren’t happy with the conditions offered at home, they’re more likely to look abroad. Let’s break it down: when it comes to wages, Spain ranks 15th among the 29 countries analyzed, with an average of €18.2 per hour (Bankinter, 2024). The top spots are taken by Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, with hourly wages between €39–47. If we compare the Basque Country with the rest of Spain, however, we find an average of €33,504/year, making it the best-paid autonomous community in the country (20 Minutos, 2025). Remote work is another factor people value more since COVID-19. Eurostat notes that nationally, only 7.1% of workers in Spain work from home, compared with 21.7% in Finland, 21.4% in Ireland, and 14.3% in Belgium and Switzerland. Surprising, right?
• The economic and social situation where people live: Housing prices, financial aid, the welfare state, unemployment or underemployment rates, and taxes are all factors people weigh when deciding where to live and work. Another key factor is investment in R&D. If researchers and scientists find better opportunities and resources abroad, allowing them to advance their careers and contribute more to their fields, they often head that way.
• Ambition and work climate: The drive to grow professionally, not just through promotions but through recognition and learning, is another common hurdle for talented people. Combine that with the work environment at their jobs, and the decision to move abroad can become inevitable. In fact, according to Business Insider (2024), “Spain is one of the European countries with the worst results in employee engagement, job satisfaction, and levels of anger, stress, and sadness at work.”

And as we know, every cause comes with its consequences. Here are a few that brain drain can bring:

• Economic and social impact: The lack of qualified talent can make companies less competitive, especially in scientific, technological, and engineering fields, which affects the local economy. What’s more, when companies can’t find the right profiles, they often shuffle their staff around, creating uncertainty for workers and lowering productivity. Taken together, this can worsen services in both public and private sectors, reducing quality of life.
• Loss of investment in education: When countries (or regions) invest in education but graduates leave afterward, that investment doesn’t translate into economic growth. This can eventually push public and private institutions to cut back on education spending.

BISCAY, THE PLACE TO BE

But it’s not all doom and gloom. We live in Biscay, think about it! According to the FADSP (Federation of Associations for the Defense of Public Healthcare, 2024), the public health system (in the autonomous community) is among the best in the country. Investment in R&D is on the rise, at 2.16% of Euskadi’s GDP and closing in on the EU-27 average of 2.27% in 2022 (Basque Government, 2025). Economically, Biscay has surpassed pre-COVID performance levels: “SMEs in Biscay have advanced in innovation. The business fabric is well-positioned in innovative activities, particularly product innovation. There’s also strong entrepreneurship, especially innovative entrepreneurship” (Government of Biscay, 2024). The same report highlights improved qualification and employment rates compared to 2019, as well as the increasing education levels of young people entering the workforce. On top of that, thanks to the tireless efforts of Bizkaia Talent (you’ll get to know more about their work in the following pages), the mission to attract, retain, and connect talent never stops.

Overall, a periodic sociological study by the Government of Biscay (2024) shows that citizens rate quality of life in the region very highly: 7.7 out of 10. And 64% of respondents say they are very optimistic about Biscay’s future.

And even though we’ve already given plenty of reasons to stay here, we might have forgotten the most important one: in Madrid, you’ll pay €5 for a pintxo de tortilla, and in Norway, you won’t even be able to get your hands on one. So yeah, think about it…

So, if we want the news to stop repeating itself and actually bring us something new, maybe we all need to do our part, not just skilled workers, but companies and industries too. Because we all know our region is full of people with good heads on their shoulders. And don’t forget about the pintxos… they are quite important as well.