North Macedonia reports rise in unemployment and labor shortages

North Macedonia has seen a monthly increase in unemployment, with 88,541 active job seekers registered in June, an increase of 2,425 compared to May. Additionally, 41,281 individuals are registered as passive job seekers.

Data from the Employment Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia reveals a significant mismatch between the available workforce and employer needs. While over 60% of employers report a need for new staff and more than 10,000 job vacancies exist, a large portion of the unemployed population lacks specialized skills. Approximately 83% of active job seekers have either no formal education, primary education, or secondary education.

Demographically, ethnic Albanians make up 40.3% of active job seekers, followed by ethnic Macedonians at 38.0%, Roma at 11.3%, and Turks at 7.4%. To address labor shortages, 10,143 requests for foreign work permits were submitted within a single year.