The leaving abroad of women of fertile age affects the sociodemographic structure of the population because the birth rate decreases, the population aging processes amplify and the popualtion diminishes, shows the statistical profile of migrant women launched by UN Women Moldova and the National Bureau of Statistics, IPN reports.

The study shows that each third person who goes abroad is a woman and each 13 woman older than 15 goes abroad to work. Of ten migrant women, seven are of fertile age, four are from the south of the country, three from the center and three from the north. Seven are from villages, while three are from towns. Five migrate to Russia, three to Italy, while two to other countries. Three of ten women working abroad are employed in the bulding sector, three in trade, industry and hotel services, while four as housewives.

Most women working abroad have higher education, specialized or vocational studies. Seven out of ten are young women, nine out of ten financially support their family and six out of ten have obtained work experience and skills as a result of migration. However, one in three returned women were healthier prior to leaving the country. Only one in five young migrant women (between 15-34 years) has an employment contract. For each third migrant woman, the family was torn apart or children were left behind.

The migration of working women from Moldova can be described as of persons with secondary vocational and specialty education, while of working men – of persons with secondary vocational education and lower.

The long absence from the country limits the women’s opportunities to take an active part in the public life at home, while the involvement in the decision-making process is reduced mainly to cash transfers made to families.

The main limitations faced by migrant women are those related to the return to work, access to health and social protection services, psycho-emotional and behavioral aspects and the stereotypes persisting in the country.