Youth anxiety about the future and brain drain: Why are they leaving and what should be done?

One of Turkey's biggest problems is the hopelessness young people feel about the future and how this is turning into an ever-increasing anxiety. This anxiety is not just an individual problem, but also a reflection of the system's irresponsibility toward the youth. Youth anxiety about the future and brain drain have never been as visible or as deep as they are now. So, what are the reasons pushing young people to make such a major decision? Why are educated individuals looking for hope abroad instead of finding a future in their own country?

Anxiety About the Future: The System's Betrayal of the Youth

The anxiety about the future experienced by young people is not just a psychological state, but the result of a betrayal by the current system against the youth. At the root of this betrayal lie deep structural problems stemming from the malfunctioning of the education system, unemployment and lack of meritocracy, economic crises, and social pressures.

• The Education System: A Trap

     Instead of "preparing young people for the future," the education system traps them in a cycle of consumption. Universities have turned into factories that hand out diplomas but do not prepare students for real life. Young people are disappointed when they see that the diplomas they earned by spending years and their families' savings are of no use in finding a job. The education system approaches young people with the promise that "if you succeed, everything will be fine," but this promise turns out to be a lie when faced with reality.

     Especially in countries like Turkey, the education system is shaped by constantly changing curricula, an exam-oriented structure, and a rote-learning approach. This stifles the creativity of young people and turns them into robots. Raised in a system based entirely on solving tests, far from skills like critical thinking and problem-solving, young people cannot meet the demands of the business world when they graduate. Moreover, inequality of opportunity in education creates a deep chasm among the youth. While families with money send their children to private schools and have them educated abroad, children from low-income families are forced to study in crowded classrooms with inadequate facilities. This inequality further weakens the hopes of young people for the future.

• Unemployment: Young People Crushed in the Gears of the System

     Unemployment is one of the biggest causes of youth anxiety about the future. However, this unemployment does not stem from young people "not working hard enough" or "not being qualified enough." Instead of offering job opportunities to the youth, the system condemns them to insecure, low-wage, and futureless jobs. Furthermore, in a job market where cronyism rather than merit is at the forefront, it becomes almost impossible for young people to get the reward for their labor. This situation spreads the feeling among the youth that "no matter what I do, I won't get anywhere."

     In Turkey, youth unemployment rates remain above 20% even according to official figures. However, these figures do not fully reflect the real situation. Young people defined as “Home Youth” or “idlers,” who are not in education, not working, and not looking for a job, are included in the Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) category. While they lack economic independence, these young people usually live in their families' homes. These hopeless young people lack both participation in the labor force and opportunities for personal development. The rate of young people who are not in education or employment is also an indicator of the structural problems, economic crises, and political shortcomings a society faces. The high rate of young people in the NEET category leads to many socioeconomic problems such as social instability, rising crime rates, economic and social costs, social exclusion, and adjustment issues. It is estimated that the rate of young people in our country who are neither in education nor in employment is currently at the 25% level.

• Social and Political Decay

    Young people are also deeply affected by the social and political structure of the society they live in. Corruption, injustice, and lack of meritocracy consume the hopes of young people for the future. Instead of producing solutions to the problems of the youth, political powers prefer to stall them with fancy promises, portraying them as the "guarantors of the future." However, these promises never turn into reality. Young people find themselves in a vicious cycle: hopes are exhausted, dreams are shattered, and only anxiety remains.

    Especially in recent years, political instability and social polarization have further weakened the hopes of young people for the future. Young people feel deprived of the freedom to express themselves and see that channels for social opposition are blocked. This also causes young people to lose faith in political processes.

Brain Drain: The System Losing the Youth It Raised with Its Own Hands

Brain drain emerges as a result of the anxiety young people feel about the future. However, this is not just an individual choice, but also a result of the structural problems the country is in. Young people turn abroad in search of better opportunities and an environment where they will find the reward for their labor.

• Lack of Meritocracy and Favoritism

     In a system where cronyism and favoritism, rather than merit, are at the forefront, it is not realistic to expect qualified young people to stay in their own country. When young people see that the knowledge and skills they acquired by spending years are of no use in finding a job, they turn abroad. Because abroad, merit and labor are at the forefront. Young people whose value is not recognized in their own country find the value they deserve in other countries.

    Especially young people studying in the fields of engineering, medicine, and science face serious difficulties in finding jobs in their own country. Moreover, young people who want to work in these fields cannot find the opportunity to advance their careers due to inadequate infrastructure and resources. This situation causes young people to turn abroad.

• Lack of Investment in Research and Development

     Qualified young people go abroad because they cannot find research and development opportunities in their own country. A system that does not invest in science, technology, and innovation wastes the potential of the youth. Young people find the opportunity to conduct scientific studies and advance their careers with the facilities offered to them abroad. This situation also endangers the future of the country.

On the other hand, universities abroad provide a much freer environment open to scientific developments compared to the education system in Turkey. Countries such as Germany, the USA, Canada, and the Netherlands, in particular, accept qualified students from Turkey and offer them scholarships and work opportunities. This allows young people to receive a higher quality education while also being more economically secure.

    Especially in recent years, the cutting of research and development budgets, the lack of support for scientists' projects, and the weakening of university autonomy have accelerated the trend of young people turning abroad. Since they cannot find the opportunity to do science in their own country, young people prefer to continue their careers in other countries.

• Social and Economic Instability

     Young people migrate abroad because there is no social and economic stability in their own country. An insecure future, high inflation, unfair tax systems, and rising living costs drive young people away from their country. Abroad, a safer and more stable life is offered. For young people, this means not an "escape," but a "salvation."

    Especially in recent years, economic crises and political uncertainties have further weakened the desire of young people to stay in their country. Since they cannot secure their future in their own country, young people are in search of a better life abroad.

The System's Impasse: So What Should Be Done?

The problem of youth anxiety about the future and brain drain is an indicator of the system's inadequacy in producing solutions. These problems cannot be solved solely by the efforts of the youth; the system needs to undergo a radical change. So, what should be done in this situation?

• The Education System Must Be Radically Restructured: The education system must be restructured to prepare young people for real life beyond just a diploma. Critical thinking, creative skills, and innovation must be at the forefront. In addition, inequality of opportunity in education must be eliminated, and every young person must be able to access education with equal opportunities.

• Meritocracy Must Come to the Fore: Merit and labor must be prioritized in the business world, and cronyism and favoritism must end. Young people should be able to reach the jobs they deserve under the conditions they deserve.

• Investment Must Be Made in Research and Development: Serious investments must be made in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. Projects where young people can utilize their potential must be implemented, and research opportunities must be increased.

• Social and Economic Stability Must Be Ensured: To end the anxiety of young people about the future, social and economic stability must be ensured, and job security and living costs must be reduced. To encourage young people to stay in their country, a fair tax system and quality health and education services must be provided.

Conclusion: Youth Hope Is Possible with Systemic Change!

Recent migrations are taking place as a response to the large income and welfare gaps between countries and global imbalances. The main factor affecting migration movements is the income differences between countries. Today, the largest group of migrants consists of people coming from developing countries. The main target countries they migrate to are countries with high living standards.

A similar trend is the case for our country. The migration rate of higher education graduates in Turkey, which was 1.6% in 2015, rose to 2% in 2023. Our higher education graduates who migrated have turned to countries with higher living standards. The most preferred country was the USA with 21.4%. The USA was followed by Germany (17.5%), the United Kingdom (11.2%), the Netherlands (6.9%), and Canada (4.9%), respectively.

A young person leaving Turkey means a great loss not only for themselves but actually for the future of the country. Youth anxiety about the future and brain drain are the result of the distortions of the system. These problems cannot be solved by the individual efforts of the youth. The system needs to undergo a radical change, give hope to the youth, and utilize their potential. Otherwise, young people will get lost in the labyrinth, brain drain will be inevitable, and Turkey will continue to lose its greatest assets, namely its youth, the most important elements of our human capital.

The hope of the youth is possible with the change of the system and with structural reforms to be made in this regard without delay. In addition to the improvement in economic conditions, there is also a need for institutions that operate transparently regarding the social order and for fair competition. This change is a necessity not only for the youth but also for the future of society. Thus, we can ensure the return of our youth, and even create the essential and permanent conditions to reverse brain drain into brain gain. As the right steps are taken by the country's administration, and as opportunities and conditions change in favor of our youth, the desire to return may also increase. Thus, this precious human capital that we have given as brain drain will also be important sources of Turkey's sustainable development in the coming years.