Russia Sees Tech Brain Drain, Other Nations Are Hoping To Benefit
Russia’s tech workers are seeking safer and more secure professions.
According to one estimate, as many as 70,000 computer experts fled the country after Russia invaded Ukraine five weeks ago. More are likely to follow.
Some countries see Russia’s loss as a potential gain and a chance to add new expertise to their high-tech industries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin noticed the brain drain in spite of the war. According to the U.N. refugee agency, more than 4,000,000 people fled Ukraine, and millions more were displaced within the country.
Putin responded to the exodus of tech professionals this week by approving legislation that will eliminate income taxes for employees of information technology companies between now and 2024.
Many of the exiles in high-tech are not in a hurry to return home, according to some. A select group of elite people with visas from the European Union have moved to Poland and the Baltic countries of Latvia or Lithuania.
The countries in which Russians don’t need visas have a larger number of migrants: Georgia, Armenia and the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. Normal times see millions of lower-skilled workers migrate from economically unstable countries to more prosperous Russia.
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