• As high-skilled migrants become more settled in their host countries, their plans to stay tend to firm up, indicating a growing interest in long-term or permanent residence.
• Economic and family considerations both strongly influence migration decisions. Around one-third of respondents cited job loss or career progression as key factors, while care needs or illness of relatives were also frequently mentioned.
• Staying intention was most strongly associated with feelings of safety and stability, followed by recognition from others and a sense of social and emotional connection. These findings suggest that migrants are more likely to remain when they feel secure, valued, and connected.

Application

Some recommendations include:

• As migrants in Singapore reported the highest sense of safety and stability, it is recommended to conduct qualitative research to identify the underlying factors shaping these perceptions and how they compare with conditions in Japan and South Korea, to guide improvements in strengthening staying intentions across all three countries.
• Migrants in IT reported the lowest average score for externally derived esteem; therefore, it is recommended to extend the study with targeted qualitative research to explore what contributes to their self-esteem, in order to better support and recognize these professionals for long-term talent retention.