Migrating, declining fertility rate shrinks Kosovo population

Final census data is expected to be released in July, but according to preliminary data published last month by the Statistics Agency, the number of population in Kosovo has dropped by about eight percent.

The “is primarily external population migration, then we have the fertility rate that is beginning to fall in Kosovo as in all countries in the region but even wider. Then we have population aging -- namely, increasing life expectancy affecting population aging -- and we have other factors that are economic and which result from demographic changes”, Visar Mujko Nimani from the UNFPA office in Kosovo said in a conversation with the Voice of America.

A survey conducted by the Institute for Advanced Studies GAP late last year revealed that 27 percent of Kosovo's citizens have immigration plans.

Bland Hyseni from this institute told Voice of America that these figures are disturbing as citizens' flight directly affects the labour market in Kosovo.

“In the 2012 period 2022 about 340 thousand citizens have emigrated from Kosovo, these are official figures. In the last two years for which we have official figures, there are some 41,000 citizens who have emigrated from Kosovo to other European Union countries, mainly Germany or Switzerland”, he said.

Mr. Hyseni says that the higher-minded sectors for migration are production and construction that are very important for the country's economy.

“From what we have identified still dominates economic conditions or aspects why citizens are deciding to leave Kosovo. So poor wages, poor conditions are the main reasons yet to lead. These are well argued because we have seen the labour market in Kosovo separately that private one has been very regid in terms of adopting salaries with living conditions. So at a time when quantum inflation has continued to rise from 20 percent, 30 percent and wages have stood at 300 or 400 euros, this has steadily increased the discontent of citizens”, he says.

Economics expert Leke Musa says migration of the most productive part of the population has multiple effects on Kosovo's economy.

“will directly influence any businessman who intends to initiate a process of either production or service, because it will be very difficult to find qualified workers. In the countries of the region, we have a working class migration from Asian countries to replace certain jobs, but that is not a solution because in some form the country invests in establishing and creating human capital and this human capital created in the country withdraws free of charge from other countries in the European Union”. He says.

Prevention of migration, says Mr. Musa, represents Kosovo's main economic emergency.

Whatever is to be taken for the country to become an attractive country for investors, political problems should be solved due to this emergency due to the country's empty. That's because if this trend of draining and averting potential continues, then it will be very difficult to have a good basis for economic development”, he says.

The policy changes in the function of migration prevention should start right now, says Visar Mujko Nimani from the UNFPA office in Kosovo.

“in the first place to see how we can manage migration and, for example, different policy incentives that would affect the return of our diaspora or the population that emigrated to return to Kosovo and operate here or create businesses that would increase youth employment”, she says.

Mrs. Mujko Nimani also values the implementation of what he calls friendly policies for new families essential.

“which can be stimulated by tax release, whether by stimulating housing insurance, child care and flexible times, parental holidays, fatherhood holidays, family holidays that would enable the flexibility of family members in the barracks between work and family”, she says.

Mr Hyseni recommends rising salaries in the private sector, where three-quarters of all employees in Kosovo are employed.

“If this would also be compatible with a government commitment to improve even the conditions in the labour inspectorate, to improve the health and education sector, I think it might be the last time we react and maybe change the minds of citizens not leaving Kosovo”, he says.

According to preliminary data from the Statistics Agency, about one million and 600 thousand people have participated in the Kosovo population registration process. In the final registration process, 13 years ago, one million of 740 thousand people had participated. / VOA