Workforce emigration to eu: case of lithuania

In Lithuania as well as in many other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, when the independence was regained, mass emigration started. The extents of emigration started to grow when administrative limits were abolished and the amount of countries that opened their borders increased. On May 1, 2004 when Lithuania became a full member of the European Union (hereinafter EU) and new work opportunities were offered, the emigration process became especially active. Lately the emigration has been considered to be the greatest not military threat for Lithuania, because during the last 17 years 461 thousand of Lithuanian citizens emigrated. More than a half (about 70%) of emigrants went to work to other states of the European Union last year. The main reason why the number of citizens decreases is emigration; hence it is possible to state that emigration is a relevant question of national importance that requires special attention. It is obvious that the membership of the country in the EU and globalization processes will increase the relevance of the emigration in the future as well. Object of the research: Emigration of Lithuanian labor force. Duration of the research: one month (March 1-31, 2007). The work consists of three parts; it also includes conclusions and appendices. The scope of the work is 55 pages. There are 6 tables and 26 pictures presented in the work. When main economical factors of Lithuanian labor force emigration to the EU were analyzed, one can state that emigration is encouraged because of labor force demand in the states of Western Europe because of economy that grows in some of them and because of lack of local labor force, especially because the society is getting older. The emigration of labor force inside the EU helps to mitigate the lack of labor force and the EU states use this, they do not determine transition period for free labor force movement from new EU states. Emigration of citizens and negative natural increase of citizens are the main factors of work offer decrease in Lithuania. They forecast that negative demographic changes in the future will influence the decrease of labor force offer