A RECENT WORLD bank study revealed that more educated Jamaicans are going overseas to seek better opportunities.
The study which is to be released next year stated that more than 80 per cent of highly skilled Jamaicans were emigrating to other countries.
According to statistics provided by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica in the population census conducted in 2001, more than 200,000 Jamaicans had migrated that year.
This was an increase over 1991 where more than 180,000 Jamaicans had migrated.
The World Bank study pointed out that continued migration of a country's skilled work force can affect its development and ability to eradicate poverty.
The bank study pointed out that eight out of ten Jamaicans who have degrees live outside the island. But a number of Jamaicans with whom THE STAR spoke said they felt most people were leaving because of the high crime rate and lack of jobs in Jamaica. "The crime is just so bad, I just want to leave," Deneca Williams, told THE STAR.
Others said they were leaving university with degrees and hardly any options for jobs. "I graduated more than two years ago with my degree and I can hardly find a job," Kerry-Ann Chambers said.
In the meantime many of the persons said if the crime and job situation improved they would stay in the island because they really did not want to leave.
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