The First Minister, Jack McConnell, is pushing his "Fresh Talent Initiative", designed to counter the nation's population decline by attracting people from overseas.

"We want Scotland to become known as one of the most welcoming countries in the world," he said on Monday in a speech at Columbia University, New York.

Agencies working with immigrants point out their presence enriches society and provides workers across a range of employment sectors from catering to medicine.

We asked if Scotland needs an infusion of blood from beyond its borders? What does Scotland have to offer to the "bright young things" Jack McConnell is attempting to lure here? Can Scotland ever regard immigrants as anything other than "outsiders"? These are your comments.

The following reflects the balance of comments received.

I moved to Scotland from England after graduating four years ago in Wales. I have a thorough understanding of the job market in all three countries. I have an MSc and have found it very hard to gain good quality sustained employment in Scotland. I am thoroughly disappointed with this initiative because having moved to Scotland I have not gained anything extra that I could have had in England and Wales.
Joni, Scotland

Today the world is competitive and if Scots are worried about foreigners coming in it means that they feel uncompetitive. I know that people here in Scotland prefer to have a Scottish employee instead a foreigner. There is a strong discrimination and I expect that foreigners would prefer to go to England rather than Scotland. As a foreigner, I found Northern Ireland and Northern Irish people much better.
gabriel, Aberdeen

Why can't we spend the money being made avaiable to lure foregn nationals on training for UK citizens. I am not against international workers coming to Scotland for jobs but surely we have to look after our own population first. Scotland as a country has become dominated by small-mindedness, so-called self importance and bigotry mainly towards the English. No wonder people can't wait to leave! The Scottish Excecutive disgusts me. I can only think of two-thirds I would spend anytime listening to. Since we have had our own government things have got worse, the debt we will be paying for their jumped up self-important offices which still aren't built. Like it or not we as a country will have nothing. No oil (15-20 years left max), no fishing (already gone), no textile industry, we will be left with whisky exports and an even bigger chip on our shoulder. At present I would recomend anyone with a chance to to move from Scotland to almost any other country.
K.Murray, Aberdeen, Scotland

Although the majority of Scots are warm and welcoming and the quality of life here is higher than south of the border I am now desperate to leave. Although I have lived her for 12 years, I am constantly reminded that I can never be a Scotsman and that Scotland can never be called home. In addition the petty-mindedness and bigotry of a small number of people make life here all but intolerable.
Matt, Dundee, Scotland

Scotland is an extremely friendly, welcoming place. An influx of immigrants can only add to the multi-cultural flavour of places like Glasgow. Living in Bosnia, I personally know of many highly talented individuals, who would grow and develop in the warmth and support they would receive in Scotland. My parents are themselves immigrants from the Caribbean, invited over to work in the UK. After living in England and Wales, they settled in Scotland, where they still are. Scotland is their now their home, despite the lack of Caribbean sun! My sister and I are Scottish and feel entirely at home. Scotland is one of the most beautiful places in the world, with a lot to offer - beyond castles and Nessie. Scotland itself is a "bright young thing" and an infusion of new blood can only be a good thing.
Nats Grant, Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina

I am a graduate currently over in the UK on a four-year ancestry visa, which enables me to work and pay taxes. I am currently employed in the higher education sector in north east England. My maternal grandfather is Scottish and I have always felt an affinity for Scotland and its people. I have a deep knowledge of Scotland's history and follow closely its current affairs. I visit the country at every opportunity and would love one day to settle there and make a valuable contribution. I feel there are many people from Africa with Scottish connections like mine who would be able to make a valuable contribution and bring growth and development in Scotland through our skills, education and general desire to work hard. I feel that Scotland should encourage people like myself still in Africa to come and live and work and pay taxes in Scotland. I am certain that although we may initially be seen as outsiders, once the people within Scotland see the valuable part we can play in the growth and development of Scotland they will maybe begin to see us as part of Scotland. After all if it was not for Scotland and our grandparents we would not exist. We are a part of Scotland.
Errol Theunissen, Middlesbrough

Why the focus on immigrants? We have a nation that has in the past helped shape world history through home grown talent and ability. We now have a Scottish Parliament that wishes to involve us in some political/social experiment to the detriment of indigenous peolple. Scottish people need quality employment opportunities as the talent is already here, not a parliament that wants to steal the few jobs available and handing them over to foreigners.
Harry, Perth

As a Scot who also has moved away due to the infamous IR35 tax laws but would like to return, I agree that we should outsource the 'Scottish Parliament' to India. They couldn't do a worse job from there and would at least be near the people they're trying to help.
John, Germany

There are not enough jobs for the thousands of Scots who are graduating each year. I would have loved to stay in Scotland and use my skills aquired through my MSc but couldn't get a job which gave me the same opportunity for experience and progression as the one I took in London. Friends who graduated the same time as me and have stayed in Scotland have still to find a job that is related to their degrees. Surely it would be better if this initiative was aimed at keeping skilled Scots in Scotland? As for attracting migrants to Scotland I think that Mr McConnell needs to address Scottish attitudes to "outsiders". Speaking as a Scot who spent a childhood split between Scotland and England the abuse I suffered as a teenager for having an English accent can only be described as disgusting. Get it sorted Jack!
Kate, London, UK

"Come and Live in Scotland"? No thanks. Being a Scot and moving away at the age of 20 has highlighted the "Small Country Syndrome" the land suffers from. Scotland is detached from the whole kingdom and the foreign/English workers are now moving away from Scotland after this "taste", tired of the small-minded mentality of this negative, failing country. Publicising that "fresh" talent is needed will just lead to the same problem. Only when Scotland rids itself of it self-importance (with a population lower than some cities!) will it truly retain and attract true inward talent.
Craig, Suffolk

I moved to Cambridge a year after I graduated because i couldn't get a job in science. My friends back home are all doing well for themselves in different felds. I would love to sell my wee two-bed house and move back to buy a mansion but I would still need a job to pay the mortgage.
Stephen, Cambridge

On the Scottish news recently there was a bakers in Glasgow that employed two eastern European gentlemen because they wanted to work, turned up on time and worked hard. He had fired something like 20 local people in the previous year due to bad timekeeping and laziness - one said it "wisnae cool tae work". No wonder we need immigrant workers if our attitude is as bad as this.
Doug, Glasgow

I like many others moved away several years ago in search of work. I wouldn't go back now, it's a nation of small minded bigots. The question is why would anyone want to move to Scotland?
Martin, London

A skill shortage in Scotland! Where? We keep hearing about this shortage of skilled workers, what about the shortage of jobs for skilled workers? If you're over 40, in Scotland, forget it, unless you're female. I'm retired now, but I got fed up with the phrase "Oh! You're over-qualified for this position". How the hell can you be too qualified for a position? I've got several young friends who graduated with good degrees in computing. On average, it took them a year to obtain a position. I have another friend with two MAs who works at a supermarket check-out. Provide the work and the workers will come flooding in.
Joe, Scotland

We are not using our homegrown "fresh talent". Perhaps Jack McConnell should have an "underused talent initiative" and let him find positions for the many graduates doing menial jobs just to pay student loans and overdrafts.
Kay , Renfrewshire

Our call centre/financial/IT jobs are being outsourced to India. Our manufacturing jobs are being outsourced to China. Jack wants to give the few jobs that will remain to immigrants. Let's just outsource the Scottish Parliament to India or China - they seem to know more about creating sustainable jobs for their own people.
Alan Pickett, Glasgow, Scotland

No, we do not need more people coming into this country. No, Sharleen, RK and others, there is no such thing as a skills shortage here. There is a job shortage though, that's why people are leaving.
Andy Mac, Scotland

I had the experience of living in Scotland for three years and unfortunately I found Scotland overall quite an unwelcoming and negative thinking country. I feel Scotland is extremely detached from the rest of the world in its views and attitude to other people (outsiders). It would do them good to introduce other people into Scotland. It will bring them into normal society and help them to go forward in skills, education and positive thinking. But for me I will never go back there for pleasure, only for business if I have to.
Phil , Preston

Tony Blair was so desperate to increase student numbers to show what an "educated" society we live in, he completely missed the point that we also need plumbers, joiners, electricians etc. He's had seven years to correct the shortfall in these skills but instead we have graduates who can't get suitable jobs leaving Scotland to be replaced by immigrants doing the jobs we haven't trained our own people for. What a shambles! Should we be "asset stripping" poorer countries of their skilled people? No! Give more Scots a reason to stay in their own country. Make it an urgent priority to fill the skills gap with indigenous Scots of all races and colours. As for Jack McConnell, he's so scared of his bosses in London he wouldn't say "boo to a goose" if he suspected it spoke with a Westminster accent.
John Dodds, Edinburgh, Scotland

I find it quite sad and very annoying that we have in this country very talented people well able to get the economy on its feet. However, with the ever increasing house prices and increased taxes it comes as no suprise that nationals have to travel further afield to gain employment. It's high time something was done to redress the situation and possibly Mr McConnell and his stooges would do well to look at the local issues before opening the doors to basically bring in cheap labour.
Mark Mitchell, Selkirk

I am Scottish and had until four years ago lived and worked there. When I graduated form university with a degree in computer science I was unemployed for a year. I have the skills but could I get a job? No. That's why I moved to London, where I had no problems getting a job and have since quickly moved up the ladder. As much as I would love to live in Scotland again but I know that it would be difficult for me to find a job in my field. I don't blame graduates for leaving as there is nothing for the educated workforce.
Nicola, London

The government should give more help to unemployed people before asking for migrants. A friend has been refused meaningful retraining again and again because of the cost, yet it would be an investment in our future.
Anne Hamilton, Glasgow, Scotland

Scotland might need more incomers to reverse the declining birth rate, but my experience is that there is plenty of talent here - it's just that most firms don't know how to use it!
Stuart McLeod, Edinburgh

Nobody, nobody seems to be talking about the effect of the Fresh Talent Initiative on developing countries such as Malawi and Ghana which are the source of much of the teachers, doctors and nurses that Scotland will be seeking to recruit. These countries have spent precious budgets training their staff at expensive overseas students rates (often at Scottish universities) to work in their own cash-strapped public services. What compensation does the executive plan to give to the hospitals and schools in Ghana that will have to do without their talented doctors and teachers as they are understandably tempted to Scotland with promises of a more comfortable lifestyle?
Fiona Chalamanda, Braco, Perthshire

Mr Downie says: "Businesses have severe skill shortages in particular sectors and across the board large, medium and small businesses are crying out for more skilled staff." The balance could be redressed if we actually empowered our young folk, and properly educating them, rather than relegating them to second place in favour of migrant labour.
Mark, Edinburgh

If Scotland's population is declining, then address the reasons why Scotland's natives are leaving in their droves first, otherwise the same deterrents will only drive the "fresh talent" away too. Cheaper and more available child care, an improved health service and affordabale housing will make a difference to Scotland, not an influx of more people who will encounter the same difficulties its natives already face.
Jan, Edinburgh, Scotland

I've been in London for the past 3 years since I graduated. I'm a molecular cell biologist and sometime foolishly dream that I could come back to Scotland (my home city is Glasgow) when I finish my PhD. The only problem is that there are no promising positions for an ambitious scientist in Scotland. Lack of funding for research and infrastructure are forcing me not only out of Scotland, but probably out of the UK altogether.
Daniel, London

Until Scotland develops a wide range of private sector employment opportunities, particularly for those with qualifications and experience, with businesses owned and managed from within Scotland, the economy will continue to lag behind the rest of the UK. Scotland needs to develop a climate that is supportive of business and supportive of the profit motive - until then it will remain an economic basket case unable to support people already here let alone any incomers.
Graham, Edinburgh

Without skilled labour coming to Scotland, businesses are going to go to England or Wales or Ireland and Scots have to resettle to work. If there aren't enough, the remaining skilled workers have to relocate, and the pipeline looks scarce as well (education system). Besides, the cost of living is going to go up as essential skilled people are going to demand more for their services. Scotland almost has no option but to allow immigration. Besides, immigrants are no colonisers, they are there to help themselves and their hosts and would leave if jobs become scarce.
RK, Edinburgh

I think we should encourage immigrants to Scotland, there are major skills shortages in Scotland. Let's face it, the majority of unemployed in Scotland are unemployed because they want to be. Members of my own family have never worked, not because they can't find work but because they are better off not working! We keep hearing how immigrants are ripping off the system, for every immigrant ripping off the system, I can show you ten Scottish people doing the same.
Sharleen, Glasgow

Why should it be that Scottish people can move to other parts of the UK and Europe and when they don't like it any more should be able to come back to Scotland and be given a home and a job immediately? Yet they complain about other people from outside Scotland getting these things? Do these Scottish exiles pay a tax to Scotland while away that justifies preferential treatment on return? And as for all these evil immigrants coming to take our jobs - imagine what would happen if Eire, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, France, Gemany, Italy, Spain etc sent back their Scottish immigrants. Then we'd see what a job shortage is like. There was a time I was proud of Scotland and its peoples' tolerance. Are we really the same people who can often be heard condemning English nationalism?
Debbie, Edinburgh

I am about to finish a PhD in Chemistry and am facing the very real prospect of having to move to England or abroad to get a job. I've essentially educated myself out of the job market in Scotland. There's not enough quality jobs to go round the people that are currently in Scotland, never mind an influx of more people moving here, regardless of whether they are new immigrants or expatriots returning home.
Sally, Edinburgh, Scotland

The lazy attitude of people such as Patrick McFadyen is typical and infuriating -"Perhaps if I had been an immigrant?". He's been reading too many Sun headlines and not finding out facts. My wife is foreign and I am Scottish. Even after we got married she was entitled to no benefits despite the fact that she was unemployed for some six months (and was expected to pay such bills as council tax). We've been married two years and she is still not eligible to income support if she becomes unemployed. If she wanted to acquire other skills, she would need to pay non-EU fees, currently 3-4 times that of what I would pay. To Stewart Duncan, if we do not have the will to retrain our unemployed, perhaps an injection of foreign energy would do us some good. Immigrating to Scotland is hardly an easy option.
James Easton, Glasgow, Scotland

I'm Scottish and proud of it but I have lived in Dublin for the last 6 years because there were few job opportunities for my "fresh talents" at home. I would love to come back, but until I feel it would benefit my (so far successful) career, there is no point. Immigration IS healthy and enriching - I�ve benefited by "emigrating to Ireland" and certainly do not feel like an outsider here so perhaps we should consider the fact that "outsider" is often more to do with racism than "not being from around here". By all means, open Scotland�s doors and welcome all, but remember to also invite its own "bright young things" back into the fold. The talent is out there and waiting.
Marc Diamond, Dublin, Ireland

Perhaps we should get the basics correct first before we look to attract overseas talent. I worked and lived in Europe until very recently. Due to family illness my wife and I had to return home. First thing was I could not get a mortgage, I was not a critical case with housing associations so I could not get a home or in fact buy one for at least 6 months. My wife and I both have skilled professions but oh, I forgot, we are also Scottish. Perhaps that's where the system failed. I was trying to come home to the land of my birth. Perhaps if I had been an immigrant?
Patrick McFadyen, Greenock, Scotland

My daughter has a 2.1 in medical Biotechnology. Her ambition is to train as a biomedical scientist and work within the NHS. Can she get a training post? No. She is living in England and desperate to come home. Get real, Jack.
Anne, Glasgow

We have a glut of graduates who need to leave Scotland to find work. We have unemployed who could be retrained. We don't have the will nor the proper administration to do this. Do we need immigration? No. Do the people of Scotland want immigration? No.
Stewart Duncan, Dundee