By Emmanuel Nduka
Many more young Nigerians are set to proceed abroad in search of greener pastures, as Estonia, a country in northern Europe, is asking foreign skilled workers to apply for work visa.
The country which was formerly a part of the Soviet Union, opened a work visa opportunity for foreigners to apply as it battles labour shortages.
According to the opening, opportunities abound in 23 in-demand sectors including healthcare, agriculture, and engineering, dentistry, agriculture, and engineering, in 2024.
Estonia, known for its streamlined work visa application process and acceptance rates, is one of the most accessible destinations for skilled professional opportunities in Europe.
The country stated that having comparatively lower visa applications than other countries, it would move to absorb a more foreign-skilled workforce in 2024.
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According to reports, about 12,040 job vacancies were disclosed by Statistics Estonia, an 8.7% decline from the year before.
But despite the decline, the country continues to struggle against workforce shortages across various sectors. Job shortages are apparent in specific sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, and technology.
Japa Syndrome
The rate of young Nigerians exiting the country in search of greener pastures abroad is on a steady rise.
A 2021 Africa Polling Institute survey revealed that 7 out of every 10 Nigerians will choose to leave the country if given the opportunity. This contributed to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) issuing a record-breaking number of 1,899,683 passports in 2022.
