Inclusivity pays off: Countries with same-sex marriage retain skilled professionals more effectively, per study

For employees, a job is about more than just the paycheck—elements like work-life balance, career development and a positive workplace environment play crucial roles. This broader perspective extends to a national level too, with highly skilled professionals increasingly drawn to countries that offer a more inclusive and progressive atmosphere.

A recent study from Washington State University underscores this notion, revealing that European countries which embraced same-sex marriage saw a significant boost in retaining their top talent. This shift had considerable economic repercussions, particularly in influencing the flow of skilled workers to the United States.
Uncovering the link between marriage equality and skilled labour retention
The study, recently published in AEA Papers and Proceedings, analysed 20 years of data on H-1B visas—those coveted permits for immigrants with advanced degrees and specialised skills.

The research team’s choice to focus on EU countries was a strategic one, leveraging the shared labour market within this political and economic union for a more precise analysis of marriage equality’s effects. The EU also provided a natural experiment: by 2019, roughly half of the 27 member states had legalised same-sex marriage, while the remaining 14 had not, creating a perfect control group for comparison.

The results revealed that from 2000 to 2019, as 13 EU countries adopted same-sex marriage laws, the U.S. experienced a 21% decline in new H-1B visas from these countries. This trend persisted despite differences in enactment dates and economic conditions across the EU.

The study also considered the effect of the U.S. recognising foreign same-sex marriages in 2013. Notably, this policy change slowed the decrease in H-1B visa admissions from EU countries with existing marriage equality laws, such as The Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.

Koroles Awad, a Ph.D. candidate in economics at WSU, emphasised that inclusive policies make countries more attractive to skilled labour. This finding underscores the broader economic benefits of marriage equality beyond just social progress.

Awad further noted that marriage equality could act as a non-monetary incentive for attracting and retaining highly sought-after skilled workers, particularly in STEM fields.

Building on previous U.S. studies showing that same-sex couples and households led by women were more likely to relocate to states recognising same-sex marriage, this new research broadens the understanding of how inclusive policies affect migration patterns.

Although this study doesn’t address the sexual orientation of H-1B visa holders, it clearly indicates that the appeal of inclusive environments is a significant factor for skilled professionals.