The growing trend of emigration of highly educated personnel and the population in general from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is reaching alarming proportions, and recently this has been particularly characteristic of the health and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors.
Despite the fact that there are no precise statistics and exact data on the outflow of young professionals from BiH, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has recognized this problem and in partnership with BiH competent institutions conducted a survey to gather evidence on the emigration of health and ICT professionals, Federalna writes.
In this regard, a study “Migration of health workers and ICT professionals from BiH” was presented in Sarajevo yesterday to identify the causes of this phenomenon and its impact on economic development, education, demographic structure, investment, and other relevant development aspects.
The participants were greeted by the Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH Ankica Gudeljevic, who pointed out that the results of this research can be helpful to decision–makers in developing new policies in this area.
Gudeljevic recalled several key lines of action identified in the study, including strengthening institutional capacity to collect, analyze, use, and share labor migration data in the country and abroad.
”It is necessary to find an adequate way to discourage migration, ie the departure of labor outside BiH in all sectors,” mentioned Gudeljevic, giving priority to investing in domestic production and creating new jobs.
At the same time, she assessed the transfer of knowledge from the diaspora to all sectors in BiH, and thus to the health and ICT sector, and the engagement in the field of appropriate records and development of strategies for retaining young professionals in BiH.
In this context, Minister Gudeljevic noted that the field of education, ie study programs should be harmonized with the needs of the labor market.
The head of the IOM mission in BiH and subregional coordinator for the Western Balkans, Laura Lungarotti, told reporters that young and educated people are the most important resource of any country and that their departure is an alarm for the authorities.
Lungarotti stressed the need to maintain contact with young people who have emigrated from BiH, and to ensure the transfer of knowledge and skills.
E.Dz.
