ZAGREB, June 24, 2018 – Most Croats emigrate because of better living standards and world views, they return to Croatia because of family and friends, and only 7% do not wish to go abroad, according to a survey conducted by the MojPosao job portal.
The survey covered 1,300 respondents, 43% of whom have worked abroad and 57% who have not. Forty-five percent still work abroad, 48% have worked in Germany, which 63% of Croats would choose if they decided to go abroad.
Only 13% have worked in Austria and 9% in Ireland, although 53% of respondents said they would like to work in Austria and 50% in Ireland.
Fifty percent of respondents would emigrate permanently, 39% would stay abroad from one to five years, and 4% up to one year.
Fifty-two percent of respondents who have families with children are ready to emigrate permanently, while 33% would emigrate for a period between two and five years.
Both respondents who have worked abroad and those who have not said they would leave the country for better living standards, worldview issues and moral values, and a better paid job in their profession. Other reasons for leaving include the impossibility to get a job in Croatia, red tape, corruption and non-compliance with the law.
Respondents said the biggest challenges upon going abroad included separation from family and friends, finding a home and adapting to a new mentality.
Seventy-three percent of respondents who have worked abroad found a job before leaving Croatia and 81% of those who have not worked abroad would do the same.
Thirty-two percent of respondents who have worked abroad accepted a job they would not accept in Croatia, while 68% turned it down. Forty-six percent said they would take such a job because of the salary, while 41% cited being appreciated by the foreign employer.
Forty-eight respondents who have not worked abroad would take a job they did not want in Croatia, while 47% would not take it.
Twenty-nine percent of respondents who accepted a job abroad they would not accept in Croatia did so for a salary ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 euro, and 21% for a salary above 2,000 euro. Eighty-three percent of women and 62% of men are willing to accept less paid jobs. Also, 35% of Croats who have not worked abroad, but would accept a job they would not accept in Croatia, would do so for a salary above 2,000 euro.
Twenty-seven percent of respondents who worked abroad came back because of family and friends, while 25% said they had planned to come back before leaving Croatia. Only 3% said they came back because they no longer wanted to do the job they did abroad, while 2% cited too expensive housing.
Fifty-nine percent of respondents who have worked abroad and 70% of those who have not said family and friends were the main advantage of staying in Croatia, 34% of those who have worked abroad cited “there’s no benefit” as the second biggest advantage of staying in Croatia, while 31% of those who have not worked abroad cited having their own home and no financial problems.
For both groups, patriotism and the education system were the least important advantages of staying in Croatia.
