1. No, it doesn't matter in a practical sense. I would argue however that we shouldn't be poaching doctors from less developed countries unless those countries do in fact have a surplus of trained doctors and that we also should not be denying the opportunity that people born in Australia can become a doctor.
2. Immigration shouldn't be simply an easy way out to avoid the expense of training people in Australia to be doctors.
3. Same with anything. If there are young people in Australia wanting to train as plumbers (for example) then no, we should not be importing plumbers to fill gaps in the workforce. Instead we should train those who want to do it.
1.
(a) So in our less developed country we do have a deficit of doctors. The individual however [somehow] managed to pay his way through medical school. He now wants to leave to provide a better lifestyle for his family in a more developed country; or
(b) the State paid for his education. The State requires 'X' years service prior to being allowed to leave. Assuming that that period has now been served; and
(c) there is a shortage and demand in the better developed country; then
(d) it is likely that that doctor will emigrate. This will reduce the opportunities for home grown doctors, while depriving the lesser developed country of doctors; unless
(e) that country specialises in the training and export of doctors.
2. If immigration is [currently] the answer to a shortage, there is a failing in the system. It may be:
(a) There is not the training facilities/expertise to train/teach, or
(b) a lack of [suitable] candidates.
This goes back to 1(e) where we may have a situation where the export goods are people with skills. It could also mean that the investment and time required is excessive when compared to simply importing the skill, which reinforces 1(e).
3. Once young people in a mature [rich] economy get past the rock star/sports star/etc /first job/job while at Uni period and have to consider a real job [career] how attractive are these [subjective] lesser occupations to them?
If there are shortages and there seem to be, it must be because the job/profession is unattractive, for whatever reason, or lack of training infrastructure to train homegrown skills.
To fill the requirements on a voluntary basis, if no demand, you will require immigration. To fill via training, if no training infrastructure, you need investment [assuming the demand is there for training]. If you invest, what do you have to give up?
Of course with the internet, competition can come from anywhere. You can outsource to India/etc for all manner of work via the internet if price is your primary consideration. Geographical borders are no final protection anymore.
Soon there will be further competition from robotics across all manner of jobs/professions.
Brave new world.
jog on
duc