Serbian youth protests reveal deep discontent rooted in an unjust job market, low wages, and lack of opportunity, risking brain drain.
🔗 Read the article on balcanicaucaso.org
[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]
Student protests in Serbia, fueled by dissatisfaction with democratic decline and authoritarian trends, reveal deeper underlying issues, particularly concerning the job market. An analysis by Nina Vujanović of Bruegel highlights that the economic instability is a major source of social unrest. Key concerns include high unemployment, especially among young people (17.9% for 20-29 year olds), and the prevalence of precarious contracts. Furthermore, a significant portion of the youth feel that their education and knowledge are not valued, leading to a sense of disillusionment and a high propensity to emigrate, with 41% of Serbians considering moving abroad for work. The article warns that if these issues persist, Serbia risks losing its vital human capital needed for necessary digital and green transitions. However, the author suggests that the generational shift and the increasing influence of the digitally connected youth make fundamental societal change inevitable, regardless of the immediate success of the protests.
