MIGRATION TRAJECTORIES AND ASPIRATIONS AMONG HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRANTS IN CZECHIA

The emphasis on the `global race for talent' has only intensified in recent years. This paper focuses on a group of highly skilled migrants in Czechia - country that has so far been less researched in terms of skilled migration. Highly skilled migrants represent an important part of the labour force and can have a transformative potential in some sectors, including science and education. The transnational dimension of different migration trajectories represents an important part of the migration experience and can influence an intention to stay, return, or move to another country. Based on previous life trajectories and migration experience, this paper explores migrants' decisionmaking in connection with future migration trajectories. Using a survey among highly skilled migrants in Czechia, we explore their intention to stay and the factors that may lead to onward international migration from Czechia.