From 2010 to Kosovo created 85 thousand jobs, Serbia leads the region

Under this strategy, the Western Balkans have returned to the road to growth, increasing more than 600 thousand jobs in its economies since 2010 and half a million people with higher education in its workforce.

The region has expanded trade by 33 billion euros and reduced its trade deficit from -23.1 per cent to -19.7 per cent of GDP over the past 7 years through powerful export performance, signaling increased competitiveness of its products and services on international markets.

Kosovo

And according to this strategy since 2010, 85 thousand new jobs have been added. Statistics of what has been published in the 2020 South East European Strategy - the results of implementation 2018.

According to this report, Kosovo is the only regional economy, which reached and exceeded its growth and convergence target, currently at 160 per cent of its target for domestic production Bruto ( PBB) per per capita. Although from the lowest ground level, 22 percent in 2010 has exceeded 30 percent in 2017. In the report concerning Kosovo, the economy is said to be closed, following the 2020 target in boosting trade, as its progress towards achieving the goal is 66 per cent, with a total circulation of 3.3 billion euros in 2010 to 5 billion euros in 2017.

As for employment, Kosovo has reportedly reached and exceeded the assigned target, adding 85 thousand jobs in recent years.

And when it comes to measuring the effectiveness of the Government, it is said that Kosovo is halfway to reach the assigned target, with which it currently stands at 2.1 on its path from 1.9 in 2010 to 2.3.

Albania

But after Kosovo, the smaller number of job creation countries is Albania, which from 2010 to 2017 has created only 28,000 new jobs. In the 2020 Southeast European Strategy, it is said that Albania has had a strong performance, in increasing trade within the region, and currently is 5.8 percent, which is a 200 percent increase (from 4 to 2010 with the target set at 4.9) and an encouraging sign that Albania, which was less integrated in the regional economy, is expanding its trade with regional partners.

Albania is said to have the second best performance in trade, in terms of progress made towards achieving GDP target per person employed at 64 percent. Albania has reached the SEE20 target in the number of qualified persons, adding 102 thousand and 385 young people to the workforce. In employment measurements, Albania exceeds the target set for 9 percent, adding 28,000 jobs in recent years. While its national goal was less ambitious in the region. Albania's base was much higher than that of all other economies in the region.

Serbia 

And on the other hand is Serbia, which leads with the largest number of countries in the region in terms of creating new jobs. According to this report, job creation in Serbia has increased almost two-thirds of the overall regional job creation, with almost 400,000 new jobs created in recent years. It is also said that Serbia has received over 50 per cent of the overall foreign direct investment in the region, with 2.5 billion euros, exceeding its progress towards the SEE 2020 target. And when it comes to progress in the trade balance (as % of GDP), Serbia achieved and exceeded the target, moving from -5.9 percent in 2010 to -10.8 percent in 2017. However, Serbia has not seen progress in its growth and convergence target over the past 7 years.

Macedonia 

After Serbia, it is Macedonia, which has created 103 thousand new jobs. Employment in Macedonia has shown a steady increase and is on a good track to meet the 2020 target, with a current score of 71 per cent. The economy added the second largest number of new jobs to 103 000. Trade growth in Macedonia has also reportedly been impressive, with the economy almost doubling its trade over the past 7 years from 6.9 billion euros to 12.5 billion euros. The economy is among the leaders in the region with 71,062 newly added and qualified workers. The economy shows progress in achieving its goal, The per capita GDP is currently 37 percent, moving from 34 percent from 2010 to 43 percent by 2020.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

As for job creation, Bosnia and Herzegovina is said to be 63 percent, new jobs, and achieved objective. According to this strategy, Bosnia and Herzegovina has set one of the most ambitious goals of reducing the negative balance of trade and is currently at -24 percent due to strong export performance. The 2010 base was -28.3 and the assigned target is at -20.2 percent. As far as GDP progress is concerned, for a person employed, the economy is the regional leader, reaching and exceeding the assigned target, currently stands at 40 thousand and 769 euros. As for renewable energy at final gross target (%), Bosnia and Herzegovina has had a decline in use compared to 2010 base year (28.9% in 2016 against 33.1% in 2010.

However, the strategy says that these developments, while encouraging, will not be enough for all participants in that economy to benefit, to ensure faster convergence with the EU. According to this report, maintaining growth rates at current levels would delay prosperity for citizens of the region for decades.