Using new qualitative data from nine countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Serbia, Tajikistan and Turkey – including structured focus group discussions and semi-structured in-depth interviews in 43 communities, this report explores factors that have supported or hindered economic mobility and access to jobs among men and women in the region. Listening to people from the region reveals that despite an overall good performance in economic growth, there is a lot of discontent and rising concerns about a disappearing middle class.