Alarming Data on Youth Emigration Highlight Urgent Need for Systemic Change

The Center for Sustainable Development "COR" Bihać organized a roundtable today to present an Analysis of Youth Emigration Trends from the City of Bihać. Based on an anonymous survey of 450 young people from Bihać, the analysis reveals the key causes of emigration and offers a series of recommendations to mitigate the issue.

The findings indicate a concerning trend of youth leaving Bihać, with a significant percentage of respondents (54.9%) expressing their intention to leave. The primary reasons include a lack of economic opportunities, a mismatch between educational programs and labor market demands, a weak social life, and a lack of trust in institutions. These factors, combined with political instability, result in the continuous loss of young and educated individuals.

"The analysis shows that youth emigration is primarily driven by educational and economic opportunities. Addressing this issue requires intensive, coordinated, and strategic efforts. Solutions are possible but demand the engagement of all social and political actors. Today’s discussion has encouraged us to bring the issue of mass youth emigration back into focus, not only at the city level but also at the cantonal level. With the support of high school and university students, we aim to urge local and cantonal authorities to adopt our proposals, measures, and strategies," stated Ajna Jodanović, External Expert for the Development of the Analysis of Youth Emigration Trends from Bihać.

The event gathered representatives of civil society organizations, government institutions, students, and experts in demography and development, all of whom emphasized the need for urgent action.

Representatives from the Center for Sustainable Development "COR" stressed that the goal of the roundtable was not only to raise public awareness about the issue but also to inspire the adoption of concrete measures to improve the lives of young people in Bihać.

"The creation of this analysis is a crucial and integral step in addressing this pressing issue, which affects not only our community but almost all others across Bosnia and Herzegovina. We hope that the recommendations will benefit all societal actors, particularly young people and citizens, policymakers, and civil society organizations," stated representatives of the Center for Sustainable Development "COR" Bihać.

Following the public dissemination of the analysis on youth emigration trends, the Center for Sustainable Development "COR" Bihać plans to submit an initiative with recommendations to curb youth emigration. This will involve the active participation of youth and decision-makers.