Realising a Transnational Strategy against the brain-drain of well-educated young women

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A number of central European regions, especially those located on the periphery of the cooperation area, are challenged by the outbound migration of well-educated young women. This results in severe sex-ratio imbalances among the working-age population of these regions and a lack of highly skilled labour. Whereas the first endangers social cohesion on territorial level, the second one negatively impacts economic competitiveness, growth and consequently employment. In regard to the regional demographic development, the outbound migration of young people has a double negative impact: on one hand, the outbound migration of young people increases the median age of the population and the aging of the entire society. On the other hand, future demographic perspectives are worsened as smaller numbers of women aged 16-35 lead to fewer new-born children and to a long-term depopulation of the area. The project WOMEN aims at the mitigation of a further brain-drain of young females from rural areas already severely challenged by demographic change. The participating regions have recognised the need to take action also in view of their region‘s competitiveness towards businesses who rely on a well-qualified workforce.

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