Exodus of Trained Professional Personnel from Yugoslavia

Exodus of trained professional personnel, better known as "brain drain,": represents a mass migration of highly qualified workers and intellectuals from under developed to the developed countries in search of greater opportunity in life and work. This phenomenon became prominent in the mid 60s with mass migration of trained professional personnel from developing to the developed countries. The process has gained in intensity over time comprising a growing number of countries and involving an increasing number of people. With vigorous social changes taking place throughout the country in recent years, the exodus of qualified labor from Yugoslavia has gained dramatic proportions. Notwithstanding the above, very few authors engage in analyzing this issue primarily because of the shortage of elementary sources of information. A study of external migration, especially migration of labor force (both in the SFRY and the SRY), has always had to be based on estimates as the public has never had an access to precise data on the number and composition of emigrants. In addition to poor statistical records, this paper also displays the results of few and mostly partial studies of the phenomena as well as some estimates. Data on employment and unemployment in the country can also be used to indirectly determine the scope of emigration of skilled labor. Since emigration of scientists and highly skilled workers and intellectuals from our country is regarded primarily as a social loss (which is undeniable), an effort has been made in this paper to point to the undermined significance and the legitimacy of an individual s right to personal attainment. Yugoslav society is currently burdened not only by open but also by hidden unemployment as well as by inadequate employment of the highly skilled professional personnel. Thus, when speaking of the great social loss, we may also relate it to the country s skilled professional personnel. With a severe social crisis pervading the country, the "brain drain" is manifested at two levels: as emigration of skilled labor and as a deterioration of the available skilled labor potentials.