Tenerife Launches Initiative to Reverse Brain Drain and Bring Talent Home

Island governments are making it a top priority to bring home local talent, aiming to reverse the "brain drain" by connecting displaced professionals directly with businesses back home. The Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife) has launched a new platform in Madrid designed to help young people from Tenerife, who are currently living in the capital for work or study, return to the island.

Youth emigration has significantly impacted the Canary Islands over the last decade, but officials are now moving beyond simple job placement to address the issue. Internal data suggests that 70% of those who left the island want to return. To turn that desire into reality, Cabildo President Rosa Dávila has launched a networking initiative that connects these expatriates with local companies struggling to fill specialized roles.

Tenerife’s job market is shifting away from its traditional reliance on the service sector toward higher-value industries. Emerging fields like biomedicine, aerospace, and audiovisual production are driving the demand for skilled workers. Serafín Mesa, the Minister of Youth and Training, notes that the main barrier to hiring is often the physical distance between talent and employers, which these meetings aim to bridge.

The initiative, which recently included industry leaders like Hunger4Innovation co-founder Sixto Lecuona, aims to build a lasting community that keeps professionals connected to their roots. For attendees like Jorge Castillo, who lives in Madrid, these forums serve as both a recruitment tool and a way to stay connected to home, making it easier to eventually return to the island’s workforce. Ultimately, the program’s success will depend on whether the Cabildo can maintain these connections, ensuring that the skills and experience gained abroad contribute to the island's future growth.