Young people in the Republic of Moldova face a difficult decision upon turning 25: to stay at home without a job or to move abroad in search of a better future. Veaceslav Ionita, an economic policy expert at the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDSI) “Viitorul,” reached this conclusion. According to Bani.md, the weekly program “Economic Analyses with Veaceslav Ionita” reveals that the highest migration rate occurs among individuals aged 25 to 34.
“These young people do not see the opportunity to work at home and move abroad,” Ionita emphasized. According to the expert, in 1980, the Republic of Moldova, on both sides of the Dniester River, had 1.33 million young people aged 15 to 34, and by 1990, this number had increased to 1.34 million. However, the number of young people has drastically decreased. By 2024, estimates suggest that the country will have only a little over 537,000 young people, reflecting a decrease of two and a half times compared to the past.
Ionita pointed out that low birth rates and massive migration drive the reduction in the number of young people. Many young Moldovans move abroad for better living conditions and professional opportunities they cannot find in their home country.
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The expert presented alarming statistics: in 2024, estimates suggest that nearly 41.9% of young people aged 15 to 34 will have moved abroad. Additionally, the rising number of young people who are neither employed nor pursuing any form of education continues to exacerbate the migration phenomenon.
Veaceslav Ionita concluded that Moldovan young people over 25 often struggle to find employment in Moldova, leading them to move abroad. The scarcity of job opportunities and economic prospects drives them to seek better prospects elsewhere, posing a risk to Moldova’s demographic and economic future.