Migrating, one reason for growth in unemployment by 3 percent

Among the unemployed is Blart Kukaj, a student at the Jurydical Faculty. He has never been employed, and he does not hope that after completing his studies, he will provide a job.

For young people, I don't see any prospects in Kosovo. Even completing studies does not provide a job. I am very disappointed with Kosovo institutions how little they are doing to create opportunities for job creation. We just finish the faculty and stay home”, Kukaj said.

According to him, the few who manage to be employed in public institutions are done without merit and without meeting the criteria.

On the other hand, experts on economic issues consider that increasing the rate of unemployment by 3 per cent has come due to the failure to realise capital projects and migration of young people outside Kosovo.

Naim Gashi, an expert on economic issues, tells Radio Free Europe that recently young people who are entering the labour market are getting jobs for a period of time in Western European countries.

“What has contributed to the rise in the rate of unemployment is the fact that the overwhelming share of young people entering the labour market are migrate legally, mainly to Germany, which is the primary absorption of young people and professionals from Western Balkan countries, Gashi says, adding that unless the departure of young people from Kosovo to Western states took place, the unemployment rate would be about 20 percent higher.

Unemployment, according to sociologists, has been seen as the main cause of other actions, whether the involvement of citizens in illegal actions or even their departure from the country.

During November 2014, June 2015, there was a major influx of Kosovo citizens to Western European countries. The reason for the departure of these Kosovo residents was said to be their unemployment and serious economic situation.

Otherwise, the other factor that has contributed to the increase in unemployment rates, according to Gashi is informal employment in various sectors.

“Sectors where informal employment is most present is that of construction and agriculture. The large part of businesses do not declare employees, pay income taxes, or pension contributions”, Gashi said.

According to the poll released by the Statistics Agency, which has been conducted with about 3,500 family economies throughout Kosovo's territory, it is said that two-thirds of the population in Kosovo are working age.

The most pronounced unemployment is represented in women by 30.6 percent compared with men 29.1 percent. The most pronounced unemployment rate is among 15-24-year-old groups with 55.0 percent. (REL)