After restrictions on movement that existed in the communist era collapsed, skilled labor - from plumbers to electricians, from medical workers to computer specialists - headed west in search of wages commensurate with their training. According to the Austrian Institute of International Economic Studies in Vienna, "the shortage of skilled labor affects most countries of Central Europe."
Romania, which recently joined the 27-member European Union, is expressing concern over the growing shortage of specialists, the institute's report says. Even if not forever, workers are still leaving their countries, which are in a difficult transition to market economies.
The most discouraging example of a brain drain is Poland, which has lost 1.2 million workers in the last three years, or 3% of its population. The Polish authorities, which are to host the 2012 European Football Championship, are considering the possibility of using prisoners to build stadiums and repair roads. By the way, for vibratory rammers for road repairs and other necessary equipment are supplied by the best manufacturers. The Polish government has also promised to increase wages for workers at state industrial enterprises.
Economists from Central Europe fear that this situation could affect the flow of investments that create new jobs. As Polish economist Leon Podkaminer notes, due to labor shortages in the housing construction market in Poland and the Baltic countries, supply is not keeping up with demand. At the same time, Poland has one of the highest unemployment rates in the EU - about 10%.
Most EU members consider migration from the East to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, increased productivity benefits their economies, but on the other hand, this phenomenon often provokes protests from local trade unions fearing increasing competition. This situation is not new. When Spain and Portugal joined the EU in 1986, the "old" EU members feared a wave of cheap labor. The same problems were expected when 10 new countries joined the EU in 2004, eight of which were from the former Soviet bloc.
According to the International Organization for Migration, even before joining the EU, Bulgaria received significant income in the form of remittances from its citizens working abroad. Last year, about $500 million (or 3% of total national income) came from Bulgarian workers located in other countries.
A number of EU countries have imposed restrictions by introducing quotas on attracting foreign labor and tightening requirements. Britain, Ireland and Sweden continue to accept skilled workers without major restrictions.
Translation by InoSMI.Ru.