The recent report from Manx Radio revealing that 35% of new residents leave the Isle of Man within five years raises alarm bells about the government’s approach to population policy. Instead of focusing on attracting more residents through superficial marketing schemes, it’s time the Manx Government addressed the underlying issues causing people to leave.

The Leaky Bucket

It’s a classic case of trying to fill a leaky bucket. Continuously adding water (or in this case, new residents) without fixing the holes is a futile exercise. The Manx Government’s current strategy appears to ignore this simple principle.

Addressing Core Issues

The Isle of Man faces several systemic problems contributing to this exodus. These include:

  1. Education System: The school system seems more focused on certification than true education, failing to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge for the modern world.
  2. Infrastructure: Basic infrastructure, like roads, is in a dire state, with potholes and poor maintenance a common sight.
  3. Regulatory Red Tape: Excessive regulations stifle business innovation and limit customer choices, impacting the economic vibrancy of the island.
  4. Economic Concentration: A lack of diversity in the job market restricts opportunities for both workers and consumers.
  5. Housing Crisis: The government’s refusal to allow people to build sufficient housing construction has led to a housing crisis, compounding the island’s challenges.

These are not new points! I’ve previously highlighted issues like the harmful impact of scrapping work permits on wages, which could worsen the economic situation for lower-income residents on the Isle of Man. This is on top of the 2021 government budget cutting the pay of essential workers and for its opaque handling, which can erode public trust and contribute to a sense of disenfranchisement. Furthermore, the government’s spending on promoting misleading information while claiming insufficient funds for teachers’ pay raises points to misaligned priorities.

The Isle of Man Government needs a paradigm shift. Instead of wasting money on poorly performing advertising, the Isle of Man Government should address the substance issues that discourage people from building lives on the Isle of Man. This is not an issue of communications or marketing or advertising. This is an issue of substance: when you fix the underlying issues which discourage people from building their lives, the symptoms – people leaving the island – will be fixed.

By focusing on improving schooling, infrastructure, reducing regulatory burdens, diversifying the economy, and solving the housing crisis, the government can start to patch the holes in the bucket.

Michael Josem is a long-term consumer advocate, most prominently as a global leader in combating fraud in the online gambling industry. He was in part the inspiration for the 20th Century Fox Movie, Runner Runner, starring Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake.

Josem has over a decade of experience as a senior business leader working across various high-tech and online industries, and takes action to build a better community. His primary volunteer roles include service for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Graih, the homelessness charity.