Brain Drain Worries Moldova: Youth Leaving in Droves
Moldovans continue to seek opportunities abroad, though the overall rate of emigration has slowed in recent years, according to economic expert Veaceslav Ioniță.
He cites data from a February opinion poll to support his analysis. However, Ioniță raises significant concerns about a troubling trend: young Moldovans are increasingly likely to express a desire to leave the country.
"16.4% of people say they plan to leave in the next six months, which leads us to the conclusion that migration will remain more or less the same," Ioniță states. "While a decrease in overall emigration numbers is positive, the extremely high number of young people desiring to leave is a major cause for concern."
The analyst also notes that the salary expectations of Moldovans are approaching the average wages within the country. When asked what salary would prevent them from seeking work abroad, most respondents indicated an amount between 10 and 20 thousand lei.
Veaceslav Ioniță believes that a salary of 17,500 lei could significantly reduce emigration. He points out that, while in 2017 Moldovans desired a salary of 10 thousand lei to stay, by 2024, that expectation has risen to 17 thousand.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
