In Serbia, some highly educated individuals, including PhD holders, are earning less than workers with only basic education, highlighting imbalances in the labour market. The situation reflects disparities between sectors, particularly between academia and certain manual or technical jobs that are currently in high demand.
Experts point out that wages in education and research often lag behind those in industries facing labour shortages, where employers are willing to offer higher pay to attract workers.
This creates a paradox in which higher levels of education do not always translate into better earnings.
Analysts warn that such trends could discourage investment in education and research careers, potentially leading to a brain drain and long-term challenges for the country’s economic and scientific development.
