The Gulf Region: Potential for Brain Drain? Try Brawn Drain
The term brain drain refers to a massive emigration of a group of humans containing intellectual or technical skill sets. For example, if people are living in a region where jobs are scarce, many will choose to migrate to another country where their skills will be recognized as valuable contribution with monetary return. Known throughout the world as the land of opportunity, America has often benefited from brain drain in the last 200 years. Today, however, Americans face the possibility of bearing the costs, rather than benefits, associated with this type of exodus. The Gulf region’s series of misfortunate events have left enough job instability to cause serious concern for another type of occurrence called brawn drain.
Workers in the Gulf region rely on three main sources of business: fishing, tourism, and drilling. The fishing and tourism industries were wiped out in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. This year was supposed to be the rebound year for both. Now that the oil spill and the media have ruined any chances for that happening, the region relies has to rely on their drilling industry. As it stands, the government’s recent issuance of a six-month moratorium on drilling in the region has successfully squelched any hope for oil business. Revised from the initial thirty day moratorium, the six-month ban has already resulted in oil companies taking their business elsewhere. One example is Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. who recently ordered two of their oil rigs to leave the region for more profitable ventures near Africa. If more companies who employ American citizens choose to follow the leader and abandon their Gulf projects, simple intuition can explain what happens next.
Brawn drain would be the emigration of skilled oil workers from the Gulf region to other countries where job opportunities await. Brazil, China, and several countries off the coast of Africa are rapidly expanding their drilling industry as they try to meet their own energy needs with growing populations. Most notably, the Wall Street Journal recently reported China as surpassing the United States as the world’s energy consumption leader. Foreign entity’s expansion of energy exploration combined with jobless, skilled, middle-class American oil rig workers produces the perfect recipe for brawn drain. This looks like an issue worth addressing.
Thanks to Fotomedia for the picture.
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