【列国鉴】记者观察：人才流失已到了必须要关注的时候——突尼斯发展面临关键挑战

Core Insights - Tunisia, once a beacon of economic development in Africa, has faced stagnation over the past 20 years, leading to high unemployment and significant brain drain [1][2] - The outflow of skilled professionals, particularly engineers and doctors, poses a direct threat to the country's economic and social development [4][6] Economic Overview - Tunisia's average economic growth rate from 2000 to 2010 was 4.2%, but post-2011, it dropped to an average of 1.8% from 2011 to 2019 [2] - The economy saw growth rates of 4.3% in 2021 and 2.7% in 2022, but the growth stalled to 0% in 2023, with a slight recovery projected at 1.4% for 2024 [2] Unemployment and Talent Drain - The average unemployment rate in Tunisia is 15%, with youth unemployment exceeding 25% [2] - Among engineering graduates, 80% opt to leave the country, with 39,000 out of 90,000 registered engineers having emigrated [3][5] Engineer and Doctor Migration - The average salary for a newly graduated engineer in Tunisia is between 600 to 800 Tunisian Dinars (approximately $193 to $258), significantly lower than neighboring countries [3] - A substantial number of medical graduates also seek opportunities abroad, with 80% of young doctors leaving Tunisia annually, primarily for Europe and the Gulf countries [6] Economic Impact of Talent Outflow - The financial investment in training engineers is approximately 650 million Tunisian Dinars (around $215 million) annually, highlighting the economic loss due to talent migration [3] - The outflow of medical professionals has severely impacted healthcare, especially in underdeveloped regions of Tunisia [6] Potential Benefits of Emigration - While the brain drain poses challenges, returning professionals can contribute positively to Tunisia's development, as they often send remittances back home [6][8] - The government faces the challenge of converting the talent outflow into a development opportunity, aiming to retain skilled professionals [8]