The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies estimated that from 2010 to 2019, about 499 thousand people left Albania in emigration, in a recent report on net migration to the Western Balkans.

The experts obtained data from Eurostat for EU countries and from non-EU countries. The number of emigrants to Albania was calculated through the authorizations for residence permits issued for the first time by these countries; 56% of permits are granted for family reasons, 17.5% for work and the rest are reported for other reasons.

Albania resulted with the highest number of emigrants compared to Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Macedonia and Kosovo. As a fundamental factor, Vienna experts point to the high level of poverty, a phenomenon that explains the high emigration flows, especially in Albania and Kosovo.

Albania and Kosovo are the two countries with the lowest level of per capita income in the region and with the highest levels of poverty according to the World Bank and consequently, have the highest emigration flows.

Another factor is diaspora networks, which provide information and resources that facilitate migration. The facilitation schemes that western countries like Germany have set up for labour absorption are another factor.

In Montenegro, the emigration of the last decade is a feature of the young population. About 20 thousand work permits were issued to young people in Montenegro during the period 2010-2019, say Vienna experts. Most work permits are seasonal in nature, for construction work, tourism and trade.

In Serbia, the immigration profile shows the departure of people over 30, mainly for employment purposes.

In Albania, unlike other countries in the region, there is emigration of all ages, but it is much more pronounced among the younger groups. Albania experiences net emigration for all age groups.

Even in Bosnia, emigration has affected all age groups of the population, but is more evident among young people. High youth unemployment, family reunification and education explain the reasons for mass emigration of young people.

The unemployment rate in the young age groups (15-19 and 20-24 years old) in the Balkan countries is much higher than in the older ones. Calculations show that in Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, young people were two to three times more likely to be unemployed than older people.

(Source: Monitor)