Slovakia could soon become the world’s biggest car producer per capita – if it can find enough skilled workers to assemble the vehicles.

Slovakia was one of the eight formerly Communist countries that joined the European Union three years ago. Since that time, engineers and architects, nurses and computer technicians have been leaving in droves, seeking better pay and opportunities in Western Europe, according to a report issued Thursday by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies.

Now, having carved out a niche in car manufacturing in recent years, Slovakia is suffering from the same regional labor shortage that is exacerbating concerns that foreign investment could be deterred.

The shortages have become so acute that several countries, particularly Poland, are issuing special work permits to citizens from Ukraine and Belarus, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in an attempt to plug the holes, according to the institute.

Last month, officials from the Polish Labor Ministry even traveled to India and China to recruit young skilled employees after repeated complaints to the government from the electronics, technology and construction sectors that they could not find enough staff.

“Lack of skilled labor is reported for most countries in Eastern Europe,” according to Sandor Richter, one of the report’s authors.

“Large numbers of workers have left for Western Europe, attracted by higher wages,” he added.

The problem is particularly acute in the automotive industry in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but it also affects segments of such high-skill service occupations as health-care personnel, architects, civil engineers and Internet technology experts, he said.

Read: Skilled workers leaving Eastern Europe in droves

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