EMIGRATION AND SKILLS ACQUISITION: An Evidence from the Two Surveys of Pakistani Migrants Returned from the Middle East

This study has examined the level and determinants of skills acquisition (or de-skilling) by utilizing two household surveys of Pakistani migrants returned from the Middle East employment. The results show that, despite the selectivity of migrants, their motivation to learn skills, the favourable employment context abroad and the financial incentives to acquire new skills, only a limited group of workers learned new skills or upgraded their skills level during their stay in the Middle East. In addition, a substantial degree of deskilling occurred, although half of the emigrants gained experience in the use of their pre-migration skills while abroad. The economic needs of the emigrants' families seemed largely responsible for pushing migrants to accept low skilled jobs in the Middle East, while the retention of previously acquired skills during overseas employment was positively associated with the legal process of emigration. The long duration of stay in the Middle East enabled emigrants to upgrade their skills level while abroad.