Exodus of young Bulgarians drains the economy
SOFIA: As her master’s degree in economics is proving of little use in her job at a Sofia call centre, Rumyana Ganeva, 26, is thinking of leaving Bulgaria.
“I could do this without a diploma,” she said bitterly.
She is now planning another master’s, but this time in Britain, which her grandmother will help pay for by selling her apartment.
Ganeva is joining an exodus of the best and brightest that is draining European Union (EU) member Bulgaria - which holds elections on Sunday - and exacerbating the problem of an ageing population.
According to a study by the Podkrepa trade union, between 20,000 to 25,000 Bulgarians aged between 25 and 39 years old emigrate every year to another EU country with some even younger in their wake.
“Most of our graduates can’t wait to get their diplomas to leave for somewhere in Europe,” says Ginka Slavcheva, a teacher in one of Sofia’s best high schools.
And those who study abroad often stay there, knowing that if they return, a monthly salary of 1,000 leva (511 euros, US$670) awaits.
Polls had shown Bulgarians were among the most upbeat in the EU about membership of the 27-nation bloc, even if it remained the poorest member six years after joining.
But as the Trud newspaper joked, “The main reason behind Bulgarians’ love for Europe is the chance to escape there.” Other aspects of life besides wages also make it difficult to stay.
Hristo Mihaylov, who returned to Bulgaria after completing a law degree in France and works in a legal office in Sofia, said he was having trouble getting used to the culture again.
Money and arrogance were glorified, and petty corruption was rampant with bribes to doctors or police officers part of daily life, he complained.
It was public anger about rising poverty levels and graft that forced the fall of government in February, and it was unclear how the new government - if one could be formed - would tackle the country’s problems.
This mass departure of skilled workers had created a severe labour shortage in crucial sectors such as healthcare and engineering, figures showed.
But less skilled migrants also left for Europe, where they worked in construction, waited on tables or took care of the elderly - mostly in Germany, Britain, Greece and Italy.
Since the fall of Communism in 1989, about 1.5 million Bulgarians had emigrated, cutting the country’s population to 7.3 million in 2012, according to the national statistical institute (NSI). — AFP