NOVI SAD – THE MOST DESIRABLE IMMIGRATION AREA IN VOJVODINA

Abstract

Summary:

The main goal of this work is the analysis of the characteristics of internal migration movements in AP Vojvodina, which directly affect the constant increase in the number of inhabitants of Novi Sad. The increase has been constantly recorded since the Second World War, and the increase in the number of inhabitants in the last three decades, since when the natural increase has been very low, is primarily influenced by immigration. The positive migration balance on the territory of the South Bačka district, in which Novi Sad is located, is primarily a consequence of the positive migration balance on the territory of the city of Novi Sad, which is greater than the migration balance of the district to which the city belongs. According to the latest estimates in 2020, 19.7% of the population of AP Vojvodina lives in Novi Sad, the city and its suburbs. Therefore, one fifth of the population of Vojvodina lives in Novi Sad today. In the last five years, an average of 1,702 more residents immigrated to Novi Sad than left. Here the question arises, what are the characteristics of the immigration population and what are the motives of their migration? After the analysis of the characteristics of the migrant population, which showed that the population aged around 34 most often immigrated to Novi Sad, the reasons for the immigration of the young population were discussed. The paper lists some of the results of qualitative research on the motives for coming to Novi Sad and potentially staying there. Students who live in Novi Sad during their studies and come from other municipalities of Serbia participated in the research. The assumption is that during their student life in Novi Sad, they compared the advantages and disadvantages of Novi Sad and the places they come from, and that this is the main reason for staying in Novi Sad. The interview was conducted with 24 students of the University of Novi Sad, and the questionnaire used in data collection contained open-ended questions to avoid any suggestion of answers. Respondents were selected bу snowballs sample, and the only condition to participate in the research is that they have lived in Novi Sad for more than two years. The main reason is the great possibility of finding a job and satisfactory cultural content. The respondents would return to their place of origin for emotional reasons, primarily because of family and old friends, but the respondents also cited a deficiency of money.

Key words: Novi Sad, migration, motives of immigration, students, qualitative research.