Salaries are a bigger problem for European industry. Relatively speaking, the academia is more competitive in Europe than in the US, because the gap between ind

Salaries are a bigger problem for European industry. Relatively speaking, the academia is more competitive in Europe than in the US, because the gap between industry salaries and academic salaries is lower. European academia is usually constrained by the lack of funding and permanent positions. Many European researchers end up in the US, because it's easier to find a job there. Partly because it's a big country and the right kind of opportunities are more likely available at the right time. Partly because American researchers are more likely to end up in the industry, because the salary gap is higher. And partly because the American immigration system makes it easier for foreigners to get an academic job than an industry job. But we also like to joke that we are in the US, because we are not good enough to get a job at home.