The first serious blow of the financial crisis
For the first time a lower rate of migration has been registered in Armenia, i.e. emigrants do not outnumber immigrants.
According to the Migration Agency under the RoA Ministry of Territorial Administration, the first blow of the financial crisis was perceived by migrants seeking work outside Armenia.
"As compared with the same period of the previous years, the number of migrants and money transfers has reduced which speaks of the first wave of the financial crisis," says Vahan Basentsyan, senior specialist at the Migration Agency.
He says about 50-60 thousand Armenians seek work abroad every year. Most of them (90%) do construction work in the Russian Federation. The sphere of construction has suffered greatly from the crisis; therefore approximately 30-40 thousand Armenians won't be able to find work beyond Armenia's borders.
