The author of the text, Anna Čujová, is an economist. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Cracow University of Economics. In turn, she defended her master’s degree at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. She is currently continuing her education through an Erasmus+ project at the Institute of Sociology at Jagiellonian University in Krakow. Her research interests include the position of women in the labor market, unemployment and the sociology of work. She is of Slovak descent, and in her research she addresses topics related to women, family and the unemployed in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Roma and Their Identity
The citizens of Slovakia are ethnically and nationally diverse. Apart from Slovaks, Hungarians, Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Czechs, Germans, Poles, Russians, Vietnamese, and Roma also live in the country (ŠÚSR, 2021). The number of Roma indicated in the census is underestimated. This is evidenced by long-term cyclical studies conducted on the Romani population (Jurásková et al., 2004; Mušinka et al., 2014; Ravasz et al., 2020). These studies aimed to estimate the actual number of Roma in Slovakia. In the census, only 1.23% of citizens identified themselves as Romani (ŠÚSR, 2021). However, historical research suggests that every tenth citizen of Slovakia is Romani (Ravasz et al., 2020; Šprocha, 2011).
It is worth mentioning the concept of self-identification here. According to its principles, a Romani person is someone who freely declares their affiliation with the Romani minority and feels Romani on various occasions. The 2021 census allowed for the voluntary declaration of Romani nationality, but it should be noted that a significant portion of the Romani population did not take advantage of this opportunity. This may result from fear of the consequences of such a declaration, such as concerns about the misuse of data. Another group of Roma, who feel integrated with the rest of society, may have different motivations according to research. The reluctance to declare Romani nationality may stem from a desire not to be associated with this social group, considering its position less favorable compared to other groups. Additionally, reasons may include misunderstanding the term “nationality,” a lack of desire to mark Romani nationality as the one they identify with, and the potential difficulty of choosing due to belonging to multiple nationalities, such as Slovak, Hungarian, and Ruthenian (Šprocha, 2011).
Research on the actual number of Romani living in Slovakia was conducted outside the official census, in studies described in the Atlas of Romani Communities. This report is the most detailed statistical publication, updated with the latest data every five years. The studies were conducted by identifying areas inhabited by Roma, measuring their population, and assessing living conditions and the level of integration with other groups. The results also showed a continuous increase in the Romani population and the instability of their living conditions (Jurásková et al., 2004; Mušinka et al., 2014; Ravasz et al., 2020).
Slovak society’s views on the Romani community are primarily influenced by politicians and the media. Phrases such as “the Romani issue” or “the Romani problem” are associated with adjectives like “insoluble,” “urgent,” “long-term,” or “catastrophic.” These terms are intensely supplemented and often disseminated through negative media images. Most Slovak residents form their generalized perception of the Romani people based solely on these negative images. Consequently, they think of the Romani citizens in terms of deeply rooted and widely spread stereotypes, which permeate all social strata and concern all aspects of life (Benč et al., 2013). These descriptions deepen the stereotyping, resulting in the rejection of Romani citizens based on their ethnic origin. The Roma become the “scapegoat” for the majority group in society – particularly during times of economic-political crisis and its effects on social policy changes in financial terms – often wrongly attributing this minority group as responsible for the deteriorating quality of life (Šramová, 2011).
Based on the information presented, it can be concluded that the position of the Roma in Slovakia is not equal to that of the rest of society. This appears to be one of the main social problems, not only due to the deepening marginalization of the Roma but also because of their growing share in the population.
Roma and the Future of the Labor Market
The problem of an aging population is a topic of significant priority in the public discourse, constituting one of the key developmental issues in Slovakia (Rada, 2013). Aging population, declining fertility, and other demographic trends are anticipated to significantly impact the labor market and, consequently, the economic situation of the country (Škrovánková, 2017). Analyses of the future labor market in Slovakia forecast a potential labor supply shortage. In such a scenario, it will be necessary to develop strategies to address this challenge. Possible directions include considering raising the retirement age, increasing immigration, adjusting working hours to the preferences of senior individuals, or leveraging the professional potential of the Romani community.
To maintain relatively rapid economic growth, Slovakia will need to take new actions in the labor market. Forecasts indicate that in the coming years, the Slovak market will need to fill about three percent of current jobs. This means over 70,000 new workers, which exceeds the anticipated number of graduates from schools and universities during that period. This gap will need to be filled in other ways. Over the next 10 years, this will be possible only from the pool of unemployed individuals or through labor migration of foreigners (Radvanský et al., 2017). However, immigrants still encounter various barriers that hinder both their arrival and integration into the labor market and society. Moreover, Slovakia is not an attractive place in terms of employment opportunities. Additionally, it is currently struggling with the problem of emigration, especially among the younger generation, which further contributes to the aging process of the population (Hricová & Madzinová, 2022). One of the proposed solutions will be to integrate inactive individuals, including Romani citizens, into the workforce (Šaling, 2016).
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