Every young person that moves away costs the country EUR 15,848 on an annual level

They can’t confirm the number of young people who have left the country, but underline the need for a new population census.

“The main reason young people move away is better job opportunities. The second reason is dissatisfaction with the political situation. On the other hand, people return due to nostalgia, or because they want to start their own business. Institutions should have this in mind and implement measures to attract young people to invest in their own country,” said network coordinator Ivan Jovanov.

Jovanov added that young people waste two and half years on average, trying to find work after graduation.

Civic organizations believe that although existing strategies and documents should be respected, only one action plan had been put forward with the 2013-2020 strategy for cooperation with educated professionals.

“This is unacceptable and we’ll work on analyzing soon this strategy and propose an action plan,” Jovanov said. World Bank data shows that a quarter of the population, or 500,000 people, have left North Macedonia.

The brain drain prevention network will organize November 12 a panel discussion on the steps institutions are taking to prevent youth migration in North Macedonia. The directors of the Youth and Sport Agency and the Migration Agency are scheduled to attend the event.