Emigration abroad from the Former Yugoslav Region - previous trends, current situation and challenges

Emigration abroad from the former Yugoslav region began in the mid-sixties of the previous century based on the political decision borders to be opened for temporary work abroad. During this period, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the only socialist country that liberalized the residence of its citizens outside the country. Until the breakup of Yugoslavia, the emigration from the former republics abroad was with different scope and intensity. After that emigration abroad took place in different directions and noticed significant changes. The aim of the paper is to determine the changes of the emigration abroad from the former Yugoslav region before and after the breakup of Yugoslavia. The previous trends, current situation, main features as well as challenges of the emigration abroad from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are analysed. In the research available data of the State Statistical Offices of these countries and foreign data sources are used. Atlas of Migration data 2022 show that all these countries are faced with increased emigration abroad. According the stock data for 2020 the total number of emigrants from Bosnia & Herzegovina amounts 1691 thousands, that is 51.7% of the total population of the country. In other former Yugoslav countries this data amounts: Montenegro 133 thousands and 21.3%; North Macedonia 892 thousands and 48.6%; Serbia 1004 thousands and 13.7% respectively. Croatia and Slovenia are also faced with emigration, but it is offset by immigration. The annual flows for 2020 show that the number of immigrants in Croatia is 33 thousand, while the number of emigrants is 34 thousand. In Slovenia, the number of immigrants (36 thousand) is twice that of emigrants (18 thousand). In terms of international migration, the countries of the former Yugoslavia are faced with different challenges. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are faced with emigration, which, depending on the intensity, causes a greater or lesser shortage of human resources, which can hardly be compensated by appropriate labour force from abroad. At the same time, Croatia and Slovenia are in a different position and easily provide the necessary workforce, mainly from other former Yugoslav countries.