Unemployment in Kosovo highest compared to region countries

Unemployment in Kosovo continues to be very high. Compared to the countries of the region, Kosovo has the largest percentage of unemployed.

Kosovo, with 1,39.825 people, has 30.7 per cent of the unemployed population. Macedonia, with 2 million and 75 thousand inhabitants, has 20 percent unemployed.

Citizens of both countries blame institutions for the serious unemployment situation.

Avni Hajdari, a citizen from Pristina, calls the unemployment situation disturbing. He even insists that this will improve during 2019.

“Based on this economic development I don't believe there will be any major growth in jobs in next year. Most are trying to escape abroad without the prospect of employment here in Kosovo”, Hajdari said.

Another guilty citizen makes government. Ramadan Krasniqi says jobs have only the rulers.

The “Only for the authorities has free jobs, for us employees not, not ordinary people not”, he said.

While in Kosovo, there has reportedly been an increase in unemployment rates, in Macedonia over the third month of last year, there has been a decrease in unemployment. However, even citizens of Macedonia blame their institutions.

Macedonia's citizen, Naip Candman, has called “catastrophic falhale” Macedonia's unemployment situation.

It's very difficult. There are people who have diplomas and have no work space”, he said.

Another Macedonian citizen, Ridvan Salihu, says the same.

“As far as employment is concerned, it is currently very weak. Today's population is especially young today 70 percent going out. According to conditions, migration has also become very weak. As for the job, it's been said to open up for the next few years, but all of this tolerance is not fair to the population. We have remained miserable, the government does not help anything”, he said.

Ismajl Shkretta also criticises government for this situation.

The fifth time I'm fine, but working only one family member is very much a problem, little political issue, like not being in any party you can't go to work with”, it's all over.

However, representatives of institutions in both Kosovo and Macedonia do not see the situation with the eyes of the same citizens.

Kosovo Minister of Labour and Social Management Skender Recica has told Kosovo that they are drafting a plan like approaching unemployment. According to him, this phenomenon has been inherited over the years.

He also said they are trying to work with young people to prepare for the job market.

We're trying both as Government and as Minister to create conditions, to create opportunities for these citizens who are capable of work, to appear in employment offices or registered as research jobs, to offer employment opportunities and we are working very hard, and to the private sector that I see only hope. That in this country unemployment can be softened or reduced, only if we support the private sector. We as governments have taken many actions, with which the facts really speak, have begun to change the climate of doing business”, Recica said.

Macedonia's Deputy Director of the Statistics Agency, Zirap Ademi, has said that, unlike last year, there has been a reduction of 1.3 per cent unemployment.

But that cannot be accurately known because there has been no census in Macedonia since 2002. From the records of the time, the number is 2 million and 75 thousand.

“In the third quarter of this year we have 958 thousand and 770 people who we consider to be active populations, of whom we have a total of 759 thousand and 445 who are employed, and a total of 199 thousand and 325 people who are unemployed... fall to percentages, from the active population of 20 percent unemployed and 45.1 percent are employed”, Adam said.

Ademi says that a large number of young people continue to seek employment.

Even Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Issues in Macedonia Koco Angjusev for Kosovo Preress has indicated that the unemployment rate during 2018 has marked a decline.

“As for those who are unemployed here presents the inadequate problem with the need for the economy. You have problems, for example, the economy can't find workers, can't find people who need them, and on the other hand, there's a disproportion that people who are unemployed can't find jobs. Next year, we'll take a radical measure that we've called “opportunity for all” and that measure will be that the state will also pay the same social assistance, now it will pay a little bit more and the same will be called a salary in a period of six months so that those people can go to companies that want to accept workers” has said Angushev.

On the other hand, he has said a co-operation is needed between the economic Odays, the Government and the unemployed.