The Western Balkans is undergoing a significant transformation as high emigration rates—particularly among young and skilled workers—combined with unfavourable demographic trends, have shifted the region from a surplus of labour to critical labour shortages. These challenges are especially pronounced in key sectors such as healthcare, IT, and manufacturing, limiting their growth potential. In response, countries in the region have begun redesigning immigration policies to facilitate the employment of foreign workers. However, questions remain about the effectiveness of these policies and the implementation of measures that ensure the protection of migrant workers’ rights and the full utilisation of their skills.
This BBinar, taking place on 6 February 2025, will explore three main themes: the key trends and motivations driving migration from the Western Balkans, its impact on labour markets and the policies needed to adapt, and the various measures introduced by countries to address migration-driven labour shortages.
The event will begin at 10:00 CET with an introductory input and welcome by Sonila Danaj, Lead of the Employment and Mobility Research Team at the European Centre (Austria). This will be followed by an input presentation by Nermin Oruč, PhD, Director of Research at the Centre for Development Evaluation and Social Science Research (CREDI) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Comments to the presentation will be provided by Bresena Kopliku, PhD, Lecturer at the University of Shkodra in Albania, and Tibor Meszmann, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI) in Slovakia. The event will conclude with a Q&A session and open discussion, moderated by Sonila Danaj.
Registration is now open—sign up here—and more details about the event can be found here. For any questions, please contact Sabina Gjylsheni at gjylsheni@euro.centre.org. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leading experts on a pressing issue that is reshaping the region’s future.