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92% of Colombians like the idea of going abroad if they had a work opportunity

http://www.portafolio.com.co/economia/economiahoy/2008-08-09/ARTICULO-...

50% would like to do it on a permanent basis, whereas 28% would like to it for only 1 -3 years.

54% would also go ANYWHERE in the world for that matter. Colombia is only surpassed by the Philippines (96%), Irish and Brazilians (93%) and Portuguese, Mexicans and Central Americans (92%).

The reasons why most people would go are to get a better salary (88,2%), better work opportunities (88%), makes progress in their careers (77%), learning another language (68%), learning about a new culture (65%); have a better quality of life (35%) and being closer to family (11%).

Those who left to study won't come back. Most of these people left because the jobs offered to them were below their qualifications. Generally, Colombian companies want to hire the best, but are not willing to pay accordingly and take advantage of the high unemployment to push the salaries. This makes the country less competitive, since it cannot retain highly qualified labour.

"In Colombia, one has the sensation that despite the economic recovery, all the university graduates that left a few years ago with the excuse of doing postgraduate studies abroad will never come back", says Khoudour-Castéras from Universidad Externado.

By viajero123 on Aug 10, 2008, 02:21 in Friendly Talkzone.

dtapia says on Aug 10, 2008, 04:09:

:( so sad.

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papiChulo says on Aug 10, 2008, 06:23:

these "28% would like to it for only 1 -3 years" are the only ppl have have met that want to leave the others are happy in colombia.

I'm givin'er... givin'er HARDCORE

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Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 10, 2008, 06:38:

Within my adopted family or 35 people there are 2 who have zero interest in going North, one of them would like to spend some time in France the other travel is only OK for Travel and Vacations, but Colombia is HOME so in this micro cosmos the numbers are in line with the article. Elmo definatnly not close to 100%

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Medellin Traveler says on Aug 10, 2008, 08:00:

Interesting, the US continues to be an attractive destination for many foreigners.

They should have an exchange program where a Colombian can swtich places with a gringo, making everyone happy............ until Colombia is overrun by gringos.

Discover Medellin, Antioquia - Colombia www.medellintraveler.com

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Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 10, 2008, 11:28:

There are exchange programs such as for teachers. My nephew has one such business. It is called KIOSK that arrainges many exchanges or work experiences in the US, Austrailia and many other countries. These are to learn the language and cultures. All of his clients are expected to return to Colombia. His office is in Bogota.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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gamm2 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 10, 2008, 11:42:

I wonder if the quality of life is even better in Colombia or at least Bogota, at least for working people. With a 48 hour workweek and big city type commute times; it can be hard to fit in many other things. Also the average salary is very low for even extremely educated people. How do you cultivate a desire for highly skilled and educated Colombians to stay in Colombia when they face an extremely difficult work life?

As many of us on this forum are foreigners living in Colombia with a different income source than the typical Colombian job, it is hard for us to understand why people would want to live outside of Colombia.

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sanandressi says on Aug 10, 2008, 12:13:

For three years I spent a week in Bogota each year and found myself gettting bored by the third year. Now, I like Bogota and prefer it over Cali and Cartagena but it got kind of boring. I was not working or anything.

People get tired of the routine no mater where they live and start to dream of something different.

It is easy to want out when you make $100 a month....especially....

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 10, 2008, 12:20:

"92% of Colombians like the idea of going abroad if they had a work opportunity"

and maybe 92% of Colombian who live abroad want to come back to Colombia is the security of the country improve.

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Cerealkiller says on Aug 10, 2008, 14:02:

Kat1 if that were a possibility, you'd be assuming at least 92% left the country because it was dangerous in the first place. I don't believe this is the case.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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billyb says on Aug 10, 2008, 14:07:

I agree CK, that that is not the reason most left, but you are making an incorrect assumption yourself by insinuating that the reason keeping people from returning has to be the same one they left for in the first place. Having said that, i don't think security is keeping 92% from returning

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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webmanco says on Aug 10, 2008, 14:21:

It all boilds down to, well most of it to family ties and

$$$$$$$$
USD USD USD

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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romy says on Aug 11, 2008, 02:55:

Are these the same people that support Uribe... crazy how many Uribistas are coming to Calgary, they are startled when I ask them why they are getting so far away from the paradise that Uribe has created for them...

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 11, 2008, 06:17:

Agree, the Colombian work environment seems just like a extension of the archaic rural work relationships to the corporate world.

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badboy says on Aug 11, 2008, 09:02:

i had assumed security was at the top of the list of reasons people leave or want to leave...maybe this was more accurate several years ago. now economic and working conditions may be most important factors.

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romy says on Aug 11, 2008, 09:39:

your 'popular' insight is usually spot on, but in this case it miserably fails.
campesinos that are being torn apart by both paras and guerrillas, along with many other people, can claim security as a reason for leaving.

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beisbollover says on Aug 11, 2008, 10:25:

If 92% of Colombia lives on $10 a day, of course they would all travel to earn a decent living. You don't even need to take a poll to know that.

"The reason you don't understand me Edith is because I am speaking English but you are listening Dingbat!" -Archie Bunker

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beisbollover says on Aug 11, 2008, 10:26:

And Bill...the last time I checked a map France was north of Colombia.

"The reason you don't understand me Edith is because I am speaking English but you are listening Dingbat!" -Archie Bunker

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billyb says on Aug 11, 2008, 11:09:

France is also due directly east of Colombia, as French Guyana is considered as much part of France as Burgundy is.

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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poco says on Aug 11, 2008, 11:16:

Quote: Colombia is only surpassed by the Philippines (96%), Irish and Brazilians (93%) and Portuguese, Mexicans and Central Americans (92%).
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I'm going with the folks who say 92% is a low number for WORKERS. I'd say almost all the workers would have the desire to leave,, especially if they could send the money back to their family or invest in a business or income producting asset when they return.

The low number of 92% might be because 8% plus percent of those looking for a job,,, and can't read or write, put their "x" in the wrong place.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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tasco66 says on Aug 11, 2008, 11:19:

Another case of the neighbor's grass is always greener!

The trouble with free elections is, you never know who is going to win (Leonid Brezhnev)

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tasco66 says on Aug 11, 2008, 11:26:

I wonder what percentage of PBH members (not already living in Colombia) would like the idea of going to Colombia if they had a work opportunity?

The trouble with free elections is, you never know who is going to win (Leonid Brezhnev)

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poco says on Aug 11, 2008, 12:05:

Quote: I wonder what percentage of PBH members (not already living in Colombia) would like the idea of going to Colombia if they had a work opportunity?
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Hummm,, I don't live there full time but,, Let's assume I could go there to work and didn't have a knowledge of Colombia.

If the job PAID MORE than working in ANOTHER COUNTRY I considered NOT SO SAFE,, then I'd go. The only places in the world that I think were not so safe where I would be able to work,, would be.

Anywhere if Africa, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, and of course Norway where some blond Swede visitor might whip on my head.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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