Emigration is the act of leaving one's country to reside in another. It is a process that can involve family, friends, and other loved ones, as well as professionals who wish to partake in this venture. The drive behind emigration can be diverse. For some, the goal is to better their quality of life, while for others, seeking out new employment opportunities is the goal at hand.

The emigration process will consist of the individual preparing to move to another country; finding an appropriate place of residence, working with recruiters to find jobs, researching countries for the best education for their children, and connecting with the community for a sense of belonging. Though individuals ultimately decide to move for their own personal motives, public crises and lack of resources within their original homeland can often cause citizens to search for greener pastures abroad.

The economic impact of emigration stretches far beyond an individual or family’s economy. When a workforce exodus occurs, resources leave the country, depleting the workforce and resulting in a decrease in consumer spending. This causes an imbalance between supply and demand, resulting in increased prices, a decline in quality, and a decrease in revenue for the country. When whole communities migrate to other countries, problems of unemployment and lack of resources become more pronounced in the original home country.

However, while emigration can be seen as a loss to a country, the application of migration policies by the host country, in terms of free movements of labour, can benefit the original homeland, as well as the host country. For example, the skilled emigrants tend to bring with them learning and advanced skills that can benefit their homeland and host country with job creation and advanced technological capability.

Overall, emigration is a complex process that has far-reaching impacts. The goal of the emigrant is personal growth, while the host country can benefit from new skills, increased economic growth, and a stronger workforce. However, an immigration wave can have just as much of an effect to the homeland as it does to the host country. The surrounding effects of this journey can be both positive and negative.