Reconceptualising Scottish Island Youth Migration
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6451109 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rosie Alexander (0000-0002-3814-5825, Rosie Alexander is a postdoctoral research fellow at Aarhus University. Her PhD focused on the career and migration routes of young higher education students from Orkney and Shetland. Her book Higher Education, Place, and Career Development: Learning from Rural and Island Students was published by Routledge in 2024., corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 281-301 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-28 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Scottish Affairs (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0966-0356 • E-ISSN: 2053-888X |
| Publisher | Edinburgh University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.3366/scot.2025.0553 |
| OpenAlex | W4412692083 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 29 |
Youth outmigration has long been construed as a significant problem for Scotland's islands. In common with other islands across the world, the ‘brain drain’ of young people is understood to put significant strain on the population and economic sustainability of island communities. Declining population levels, and / or demographic imbalances create risks for longer term sustainability. More specifically, it is understood that shrinking working age populations pose a threat to being able to support an ageing population, and low levels of human capital, especially young people with higher level skills, creates limitations on economic sustainability and growth. In this paper I critically analyse the existing evidence from the Scottish islands and further afield, to ultimately question the assumption that youth outmigration is necessarily problematic for Scotland's islands. Exploring a range of alternative propositions, the paper indicates novel ways of thinking about youth outmigration from Scotland's islands that could inform policy and practice in this area and more effectively support island populations and economic growth
Geography · Political science · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics
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Mobility and the Social Differentiation of Rural Youth in Australia
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |