Conceptualising the identity of Third Culture Adults (TCAs) in the GCC: implications for labour markets and organisations

Although some studies have explored the phenomenon of Third Cultures, including TCKs and ATCKs, there is seemingly a category of identities that have not been clearly accounted for. Third Culture Adults (TCAs) have a distinct socio-psychological identity that emanates partly from migrants choosing a host nation as a long-term residence for themselves and their offspring. This paper espouses the concept of TCAs as a discrete identity that results from events and experiences among long-term settlers and provides the basis for future discourse and research to enable a more precise understanding of the TCA concept and its implications for labour markets.