Brain drain amidst economic crisis in Sri Lanka: an analysis on the migration of construction professionals

Abstract

The migration of skilled professionals, commonly referred to as “brain drain,” has a significant impact on labour-intensive sectors, notably the construction industry. In Sri Lanka, this trend has intensified, particularly amid the current economic crisis, creating significant challenges for the industry’s workforce stability and long-term sustainability. Although brain drain has been widely studied in other Sri Lankan industries, there remains a lack of research specifically addressing the construction sector. This study aims to bridge this gap by analysing the outflow of construction professionals through a qualitative research approach, including a comprehensive literature review and semi-structured interviews conducted with both migrated construction professionals and local construction company owners. Findings indicate a substantial escalation in brain drain since 2020, linked to various organizational, industry-wide, and national-level push and pull factors. Key drivers include the economic crisis as a principal push factor, alongside attractive salary packages offered by host countries acting as a major pull factor. By highlighting these dynamics, this research contributes to the existing knowledge base, equipping stakeholders with actionable insights to develop strategies for retaining professionals. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for future research on the impacts of brain drain and proposes the development of guidelines to mitigate its adverse effects on the Sri Lankan construction industry.