Young Tunisians are increasingly choosing to emigrate due to economic hardship, high unemployment, and a desire for greater stability.
Many young Tunisians feel that leaving their country is the best way to secure a future. Maher Qassem, a media worker, struggles to pay for his son’s education and his mother’s medicine. He feels his salary mostly covers rent and debt repayments.
Also, many citizens express frustration with the lack of progress under President Kais Saied. Some people remember the hope they felt during the 2019 election. Now, they feel that daily life has not improved much at all.
However, not everyone has lost faith in the current leadership. Mohamed Amine, a taxi driver, believes the president remains sincere. He argues that outside obstacles have slowed down necessary reforms.
Meanwhile, unemployment remains a massive issue for the nation. Statistics show that 14.9 percent of the population is out of work. This number reaches over 35 percent for young people between 15 and 24 years old.
Next, research from Afrobarometer shows that two-thirds of young Tunisians have considered moving abroad. Many of these individuals seek better job opportunities. They want to find professional and social stability outside of their home country.
Furthermore, Tunisia is losing many of its most skilled workers. Thousands of engineers left the country in recent years. This trend also affects the healthcare sector as doctors and nurses seek work abroad.
After that, professionals like Hamza, a software engineer, say their desire to leave goes beyond money. They face daily challenges with local administration. They also worry about the general uncertainty of the country's future.
Finally, experts note that reasons for migration have become very complex. People now search for greater personal freedom and better public life. Tunisia must decide how to offer its youth a reason to stay.