Migrants' motivations and intentions to work virtually for their country of origin

Kumpikaite-Valiuniene, Vilmante; Duobiene, Jurga; Pinnington, Ashly; Lahrech, Abdelmounaim

Abstract

Purpose – We investigate empirically emigrants’ intentions and motivations to work virtually for their country of origin. The study focuses on a country with substantial, persistent emigration and explores theories of diaspora investment motivation and virtual work characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach – An exploratory questionnaire survey on migrants’ intentions and motivations to work virtually for their country of origin was conducted in late 2016 on 3,022 respondents, all emigrants from Lithuania.
Findings – Migrants are more likely to engage in virtual work for their country of origin when they experience negative career satisfaction, perceive the country of origin as their home country, belong to a recent wave of migration, and possess occupational skills commonly employed in virtual work.
Originality/Value – Our research is a starting point for studies connecting diaspora motivation and their linkage to virtual work as a mean of human capital gain for the country of origin. The findings inform the conceptual model of virtual workplaces of Kumpikaitė-Valiūnienė et al. (2014) in relation to migrants, and support Nielsen and Riddle’s (2010) migrant diaspora investment motivation theory. We have identified some of the main factors which have theoretical and empirical import for future study. This research topic and new related studies on diasporas have the potential to contribute to the fields of migration, human resource management (HRM), and work and career studies.

Citation

Kumpikaite-Valiuniene, V., Duobiene, J., Pinnington, A., & Lahrech, A. (2022). Migrants' motivations and intentions to work virtually for their country of origin. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 17(2), 386-412. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-06-2019-0475

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 8, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 8, 2020
• Publication Date: Jan 26, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 22, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2023
• Journal: International Journal of Emerging Markets
• Print ISSN: 1746-8809
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 386-412
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-06-2019-0475
• Keywords: Migrants’ motivations, migrants’ diaspora motivations, migrants’ country of origin, virtual work, human capital, brain drain.
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/27593035
• Publisher URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJOEM-06-2019-0475/full/html