Estonia: Cannot Stop the Emigration and the Ability to Integrate Foreigners Is Insufficient
<p style="line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Estonian citizens migrate to other regions because the government does not meet their economic and labor needs. The Court of Auditors says that country in order to improve productivity is necessary to use the knowledge and skills they can offer immigrants. However, the state's ability to adapt and integrate foreigners is insufficient.</span></p>
All forecasts indicate that by 2020, the number of people of working age (20-64 years) will decrease Estonia to only 50,000 workers. Similarly, the number of senior citizens to 65 years will grow by 24,000 for that year and more than 88,000 by 2040.
This is because the government does not "meet the needs of society" in economic and labor, leading to much of the population migrate to other places.
"The state has no efficient tools to stop emigration", therefore, to reduce it is necessary to evaluate its causes.
Estonian citizens leave the place of residence and settle in another region to achieve "a level higher life with better working conditions." Therefore, it is necessary to work on "general internal reforms" to improve the quality of life of citizens.
The Court of Auditors of Estonia claims that a way to increase revenue and productivity of the country is "intelligently using the knowledge and skills" that can offer immigrants.
Most people who settle in Estonia do it for academic or family issues and are young -mainly-. So much so, that in 2013 65% of immigrants were under 35 years of age.
One of the main conditions for integrating migrants is generating adequate employment; however, so far the State "did not pay attention" in this regard. Faced with this situation, the watchdog says that "unemployed immigrants represent an untapped resource."
Another point that highlighted the Audit is that immigrants "are less than the local population social support."
Foreigners registered as unemployed receiving insurance benefits or aid such as unemployment, "were much lower than the corresponding proportion of Estonians". During the period 2010-2013 "only a third of the foreign earned unemployment benefits."
"The ability of the State to accept and integrate immigrants is insufficient," they concluded the auditors to certify that there is "little availability of information and public services in other languages" and that "the preparation of kindergartens and schools are not enough." These factors make Estonia a "less attractive" destination for skilled workers.