Half of Moldovans who leave abroad are young people, and every third young person aged 20 to 24 years harbors this intention, shows a survey.
Demographer Olga Gagauz says migration in Moldova is getting increasingly younger. This is partly due to a higher absorption capacity of European countries, which experience a decline in labor force.
“Recently, we have presented the demographic forecast for 2040. Our forecasts are quite unfavorable. The population structure is changing very fast. The high level of migration among the young population aged 20-34 is 50% of the total number of those leaving abroad. Those who leave in their youth do not return, because they adapt easily there. Whereas in the early 2000s it was parents who left for work, now young people are mostly inclined to leave. Our Generations and Gender survey shows that young people between the ages of 20-24, meaning every third respondent, intend to leave the country,” Olga Gagauz, of the National Institute for Economic Research, told an evening talk show on Moldova 1.
However, Eduard Mihalaș, an expert with the UNFPA Population and Development Programs, says that migration should also be looked at in terms of the money that is sent home by our compatriots.
“Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that about 150,000 people leave the country every year. At the same time, 110,000 people return to Moldova every year. We notice that people or pre-retirement age are returning. On the other hand, young people are leaving. I know this is a problem, but we need to look at this in terms of opportunities as well. How many remittances do these people bring to Moldova? This indicates that they stay connected to the country. Last year, the level of remittances sent by the diaspora was very high”, said Eduard Mihalaș.
Labor and Social Protection Minister Marcel Spatari says encouraging fertility rates and promoting economic growth can stop migration.
“The key to the migration problem is in economic growth. That means we have to invest in children in the future. For example, to expand nursery services. Because nowadays parents do not have solutions to take care of small children under 3 years old and have little options but stay at home, even if they want to return to work. I’ve been in the provinces and learned that there are many unofficial childcare services, i.e. mothers or fathers who leave their children with someone there and a mini-kindergarten is created. But these services are not regulated by the state. We would like to intervene, to help those people who provide such services”, said Marcel Spatari.
According to the International Organization for Migration, about 1.16 million Moldovans were abroad as of the middle of 2020.
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