Economic migration as an outcome of globalization and integration processes affecting the competitiveness of regions

Economic migration of adolescents is of global nature. The openness and free flow of goods, services, and capital within the EU facilitate migration movements. A region’s competitiveness may be indicated by good health care within its limits (the lowest possible percentage of adolescents emigrating after graduating from nursing studies), especially in the ageing Polish population. A higher number of professionally-active nurses reduces the shortage of the mid-level staff at hospitals, which is of particular importance to the families with children and the elderly (grandparents). The primary objective of this study was to identify factors that encourage nursing graduates to leave the country, in order to eliminate them. In addition, factors encouraging nursing students to return from emigration were established as well, as this knowledge would facilitate the increase of the region’s competitiveness, especially in the health care sector. The manuscript presents the results of a survey conducted among 181 students of the nursing major at the University of Rzeszów, based on an original questionnaire. A logistic regression model was developed to verify the strength of correlations between the inclination to migrate and the prospect of a better job and of having a family in the destination country. In addition, a correspondence analysis was employed at the observational-empirical level to depict a relationship between, i. a., the inclination to migrate and the push factors. The valuable human potential of nurses can be kept in the country through, primarily, increasing their salaries and improving their work conditions.