APSIRI Research: What Makes Young Talent Choose to Stay
Across the world, regions compete not only for investment but for people — and above all for the young, educated talent on whom future prosperity depends. A new research outcome from the Asia-Pacific Social Innovation Research Institute (APSIRI), authored by Ping Lin and Kim Jae-Wook, investigates the current status of overseas young talent’s intention to stay in Shandong, examining the factors that shape whether young professionals choose to remain and contribute locally.
The question is more subtle than it first appears. Attracting talent is one challenge; retaining it is another. A young person may be drawn to a place by an opportunity, only to leave when expectations are unmet, when the environment proves unwelcoming, or when better prospects appear elsewhere. Understanding the intention to stay — the constellation of conditions, incentives, and concerns that shape a young professional’s decision — is essential for any region seeking not just to attract talent but to keep it.
The study examines this intention empirically, considering the range of factors that influence it. These typically include career opportunities and prospects for advancement, but they extend well beyond compensation alone: the quality of the working environment, the sense of belonging and recognition, the availability of professional networks, quality of life, and the degree to which a place feels like one where a future can be built. By investigating which of these factors weigh most heavily, the research offers grounded insight into what actually shapes young talent’s decisions.
The focus on overseas-educated young talent is particularly relevant. These are individuals who have gained experience and perspective abroad, who have options, and whose decisions about where to settle carry significant consequences for regional development. Understanding what would lead them to stay — and what would lead them to leave — is of direct importance to regions hoping to benefit from their skills and international outlook.
The implications for policy are practical. If the intention to stay is shaped by identifiable factors, then regions can act on them — improving not only the material incentives they offer but the broader conditions that make a place attractive for a long-term future. The study suggests that talent retention is not simply a matter of competing on salary, but of building environments in which young professionals can thrive, belong, and grow.
More broadly, the research speaks to a defining challenge of regional development in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. As mobility increases and competition for talent intensifies, the ability to attract and retain capable young people becomes ever more central to a region’s prospects. Understanding what shapes their choices is a necessary first step.
This research speaks directly to APSIRI’s work on youth development and regional collaboration across the Asia-Pacific. By examining what allows young talent to put down roots and contribute, the Institute seeks to support development that is both dynamic and inclusive, and that gives young people genuine reasons to build their futures where they are.