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Socio-economic developments in North Macedonia

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2026-10-24 09:44 UTC → 2026-10-25 10:44 UTC · added ~~removed~~

North Macedonia is experiencing diverse socio-economic shifts involving its labor market, cost of living, and real estate sector. The domestic labor market is defined by a persistent paradox of high unemployment alongside significant job vacancies. Data from the State Statistical Office recorded 10,697 job vacancies in the second quarter of 2026, representing a vacancy rate of 2.17 percent. The highest demand is found in the service and sales sectors, particularly in accommodation and food services, which reported a vacancy rate of 6.23 percent. By September 2026, approximately 90,000 people were classified as unemployed while 10,000 positions remained available. Experts attribute this gap to a mismatch between worker qualifications and market needs, alongside factors such as regional distribution, wage levels, and the emigration of the working-age population. Economic pressure is intensified by the rising cost of living. In August 2026, the average monthly net salary rose to 48,733 denars, a 7.6 percent increase from the previous year. The highest growth was observed in the water supply and waste management sector (11.9 percent), administrative and support services (10.7 percent), and the manufacturing industry (9.0 percent). Computer programmers remain the highest-paid professionals, earning an average of 110,468 denars, while the security and investigation sector reports the lowest average at 28,249 denars. Despite nominal wage growth, the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) warns of a declining standard of living, noting that a four-member family requires a minimum monthly basket of 70,358 denars to cover basic needs. Political group VREDI noted that the nominal minimum wage rose from 22,567 denars in 2024 to 26,046 denars in 2026, an increase they describe as “67% higher than the growth seen during the 2016–2018 period.” Simultaneously, the housing market shows contradictory trends.

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