Iranian Vice President Warns of Alarmingly Low Return Rate of Elite Talent

Hossein Afshin, Vice President for Science, Technology, and the Knowledge-Based Economy, has presented concerning statistics on the return of Iranian elite talent to the country.

Afshin stated that the emigration of skilled professionals to gain international experience is not inherently negative. “The main issue is the return rate,” he said.

“While the global average return rate of elites is around 7 percent, in Iran this figure is only 1 percent, which is deeply concerning.”

Structural Barriers Driving Talent Outflow

According to Afshin, excessive regulations and poorly designed policies are among the key factors discouraging the return of highly skilled individuals. He cited rigid salary caps that fail to account for elite professionals’ qualifications and market conditions as a major issue.

“These policies push our elites toward neighboring countries,” Afshin said, adding that policymaking in the talent sector must be realistic and competitive if Iran aims to retain and attract top professionals.

Talent Retention Requires Long-Term Governance Commitment

Afshin emphasized that retaining elite talent is a long-term process rather than a quick policy fix. “Elites need to feel social stability, security, and satisfaction,” he said.

“This requires serious planning at the governance level and cannot be achieved through slogans.”

He noted that effective talent retention policies may take up to a decade to produce tangible results, underscoring the need for sustained and coherent national strategies rather than short-term measures.