Working force

Today, Lithuania like most of the world celebrates labour day, offering this blog an excuse to comment on the country’s job maket. Unemployment is below average, but there are stark regional variations. In Vilnius, the economic powerhouse of the country, an official unemployment rate of 6.9 percent is on par with that of Poland or Sweden. But just north of the capital, in Utena county, unemployment is nearly double, 12.2 percent – levels more like those seen in the euro-bailout countries. It is without doubt that Lithuania’s relatively healthy average unemployment ratio owes a lot to the phenomenon of people here to go seek better work elsewhere. According to local media reports, some 600,000 Lithuanians live in another european country. Given that there are only 2.9 million Lithuanians, the diaspora is comparatively huge. But anecdotes in the city abound, suggesting that the flight of working age Lithuanians and the economic and social challenges it poses to the country – from children left in the care of grandparents to a national budget left caring for young and old with noone to earn it any taxes – is not a one way street. Many I’ve met in everyday life, from hairdressers to bankers, testify that they left, but then came back after a few years away. Bringing with them new languages, friendship networks and cultural exchanges. I am optimistic that this osmosis of cultures and economies will bring some windfall to Lithuania, and for those celebrating labour day today, more jobs can only be a good thing.