Albania sees surge in employed pensioners as young workforce declines

Official INSTAT data for the first quarter of 2026 show Albania's total employment fell by 32,736 persons compared with the same period a year earlier. The 15‑29 age group lost about 14.4 k workers (an 8 % drop), while the core 30‑64 bracket fell by more than 18 k (2.1 %).

In contrast, workers aged 65 and older increased by roughly 17.7 k, a 14.4 % rise, bringing the pension‑er employed count to 140,713 and their share of total employment to 12.2 % up from 10.5 % in Q1 2025. Analysts point to emigration of young people, an ageing population and economic pressures as drivers, warning that continued reliance on older workers could limit productivity and hinder future economic growth.