Montenegro faces labor shortage as foreign worker permits exceed 34,000

Montenegro is experiencing a significant labor shortage, particularly in the tourism, hospitality, construction, and agriculture sectors. Despite a record low unemployment rate of 7.47 percent in August, employers report increasing difficulty in finding qualified domestic staff.

To fill these vacancies, authorities have issued over 34,000 residence and work permits to foreign nationals since the beginning of the year. This figure exceeds the official annual quota of 28,988, as many permits fall outside the standard quota. The most affected sectors include accommodation and food services, construction, and other service activities, which account for approximately 72 percent of all permits issued.

Deficit occupations range from seasonal roles like waiters, cooks, and masons to specialized positions such as doctors, engineers, IT professionals, and science teachers. Officials from the Employment Agency suggest that the mismatch between the educational system and market needs is a primary cause, noting that employers require immediate readiness while the education system focuses on long-term training.