Survey revealed why Lithuanians living abroad want to return

Lithuanians living abroad would be more motivated to return to their home country with a good salary, which guarantees financial stability (60.7%). 40.5 percent. mentioned the influence of family, friends and relatives, 28.4 percent. – the opportunity to work in a favorite job, 26 percent. – cultural and political changes in Lithuanian society.

Giedrė Vitė, Deputy Director of the Employment Service, notes that foreign Lithuanians who are thinking of returning can be helped to find a pleasant job and take other first steps in their home country: housing, health care, education, as well as to think about the integration of a non-Lithuanian family member.

Before returning to Lithuania, a Lithuanian citizen abroad can find information about job vacancies and labor market trends on the website of the Employment Service, and the Employment Service helps a job seeker who has returned to Lithuania to get a job, organize training and request support measures to start a business. It is also possible to request language courses, recognition of qualifications and compensation for family support, ”said G.Vitė.

Also worth mentioning is the EURES program, which provides funding when you go to Lithuania for an interview with an employer (€ 50-600) or when you move to live in Lithuania (€ 750).

A detailed analysis of respondents according to sociodemographic indicators showed that men would like to return to Lithuania in the future more than women, more often: people from the oldest age group (from 55 years). A frequent Lithuanian who wishes to return has no children and lives abroad for up to two years. A large proportion of migrants who wish to return are employed or unemployed in Denmark, Iceland, the United Kingdom or Norway.

Analyzing the priorities of the respondents for the workplace, it is observed that 41.1%. respondents do not have specific requirements, because they are mostly motivated by financial stability, a good salary. 27.5 percent who return would like to start their own business, 17.1%. – work in a branch of an international company. Only 4.3 percent. would accept to work in a small or medium company, and only 1.6 percent. – in a large company with Lithuanian capital.

Survey participants also received a question about salary expectations. The majority – 46 percent. Lithuanian respondents would like to earn between € 1201-2000 per month. 11 percent expect a monthly salary of EUR 2001-2999, and another 11%. he hopes to earn more than 3000 Eur. It is true that the expectations of some Lithuanians living abroad are not so high. 15 percent of Lithuanian respondents would like to earn between 1000 and 1200 euros and 3 percent. indicated that a salary of up to 1000 euros would be sufficient.

The main reason for leaving Lithuania was generally the search for better financial opportunities (57.2%). 10.2 percent 7.5% of those surveyed indicated that they left because of relatives living abroad. – seeks to earn for a specific purpose (contribution from home, car, wedding), 7 percent. – Wanted to see the world and experience adventures, 5.4 percent. – looked for more promising career opportunities.

The Employment Service is currently implementing a new measure to promote return migration, the plan of which provides for the organization of events for Lithuanian emigrants to meet potential employers and discuss all return and integration issues with representatives of the responsible institutions.

You can read more about the study here.