emigrant 2.0

encontrei hoje um artigo (uma reflexão) e um site sobre os novos emigrantes portugueses. achei que valia a pena partilhar. eu na realidade, não passo também de uma emigrante - uma emigrante 2.0 que diz "I'm proudly Portuguese" e traz na bagagem um Galo de Barcelos :-)

1. histórias de licenciados que abandonam o país http://mindthisgap.blogspot.com/

2. excerto do post do Nuno Sebastião, hoje colocado no Fórum do StarTracker

Summing up, the previous streams of Portuguese emigration were essentially an international labour movement, mostly made up of migrants with poor or no skills which due to the volume it attained and the financial return it yielded, had an enormous economic and demographic impact on Portuguese society. ”Now, for the current stream of Portuguese emigrants the case is quite different. While there are still emigrants today that fit in the characteristics of previous streams there is a quiet change happening in the profile of emigrants.

This is the result of what is called nowadays the ‘generation of the thirties’ (A geracao dos trinta em Portugues), what was called in 1994 the ‘rasca’ generation.. a generation that according to some thinkers did not stand by values and did not have to fight against anything.. everything was granted to them.. including education... The fact is that this is a highly skilled generation with more than 20% percent having a university degree. The problem that this generation faces is Portugal is twofold:The salary of a Portuguese young graduate is significantly lower than a similar skilled worker in most European Countries. The average salary for a University graduate is 1300 euros, correction, I was told today that there are young graduates being offered ±600 euros per month in Portugal after their traineeships programs, particularly in areas where one or two bigger companies dominate the local market in terms of job offer.

There is a lot of appetite and competitiveness between many countries and companies to attract the brightest, most skilled workers, irregardless of where they are coming from. Being highly skilled workers, young professionals obviously linger for better career prospects and opportunities…which are still not provided for by the Portuguese Industry.. As a result we observer today a mass emigration of Portuguese brains to European Countries, United States, Brazil, etc…

Relating back to the previous streams of emigrants, also this new stream takes Portugal in its heart, but I would dare to say, contrary to the forerunners it is very happy to show it, to demonstrate its origins and in fact even to promote it. Whereas previous streams were not proud of their background and some even tried to hide where they were coming from..that little rural village in the middle of nowhere, the current stream is just the opposite. So, I can today say loud and clear: I am "Proudly Portuguese" and yes I have a `Galo de Barcelos` my office.