There have been three waves of Albanian emigration to Western Europe.

• The first wave, during the late 60s and early 70s, consisted mostly of unskilled guest workers from rural areas;
• the second wave, during the 80s and early 90s, consisted mostly of better educated professionals from urban areas; and
• the third wave, during the 1998 and 1999 conflict, consisted mostly of refugees and asylum-seekers from a variety of backgrounds.

Source: World Bank, Kosovo Poverty Assessment 2001