In Albania, unemployment and corruption are assessed as the main factors that motivate young people to leave the country, according to a National Survey by the Youth Network.

Over 70 percent of young people identify unemployment as their biggest problem, while their second difficulty is poor quality education and lack of institutional support.

The results of the National Survey by the Youth Network were published in a forum on Albanian democracy, attended by researchers, activists and experts on social issues. Over 80 percent of young people claim that the government has done nothing to reduce their high unemployment.

Nearly 70 percent of respondents claim that there is a lack of support programs for the employment of part-time students who have completed their studies. According to them, this also causes their long-term unemployment.

Over 90 percent of young people admit that they have seriously considered leaving Albania for education, employment and a normal life. Unemployment and low wages are for the most part the two main factors pushing them to leave the country.

Nearly 65 percent of respondents claim that both central and local government keep them out of decision-making processes, as evidenced by the insufficient budget for youth programs and the youth law.

Political parties, according to the majority of respondents, formally hear the voices of young people only during election campaigns.

Over 90 percent of them claim that youth crime is on the rise and this is a very worrying problem. Over 92 percent of young people rate the level of corruption as high, mainly in public administration, ministries, municipalities and universities.

A very worrying problem for the health of young people are stress and depression that prevails in about 90 percent of young people. However, almost all of them claim in the Youth Network poll that they will participate in the April 25 elections as a way to a better life in their homeland. Over 58 percent of young people surveyed said they would vote in the April 25 general election because they believe it is a way to secure a better future for their country.

Political parties have relied heavily on this election campaign for promises to the youth, with election day just a week away.

Over 60 percent of them claim that the quality and condition of education in Albania is bad or very bad. More than half of them say the biggest problem regarding their education is the level of corruption in universities.

(Source: VOA)