Our youth are migrating and not returning

 

Statement by Stavros Evagorou, Deputy Parliamentary Spokesperson of AKEL-Left-New Forces

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 29th March 2015, Nicosia

 

According to the President of the Republic, the Cyprus economy is on the path of recovery. The President and the Government were stating that 2014 will be the year that will see the kick start of the economy and economic growth.

Unfortunately 2014 ended with recession at -2.9%. Perhaps the most tragic aspect of the recession is unemployment. Unemployment in 2014 rose from 15.9% to 16.1%. Seventy thousand of our compatriots are without a job. Worst of all, 47.7% of the unemployed, that is to say approximately half, have been out of work for more than a year.

We are talking about long-term unemployed who will find it extremely difficult to find employment.

At the same time, the average youth unemployment stands at 35.9%. The small decline observed is not due to any improvement in the situation, but to the sharp increase in migration abroad. Our young people are either leaving the island or are not returning to it after finishing their studies.