Institute “Falling labor force with 100,000 people, warning for Government

According to the Institute, Kosovo loses nearly 100,000 people from its workforce.

Women and younger people hit by changes in the market.

This statement by the institute mentions the high inactive power in Kosovo that figure is 56.8%.

This makes Kosovo and Bosnia the highest level of inactive power.

Meanwhile, Albania has its inactive power of 23.3%.

In addition, for these alarming figures showing high numbers of inactivity, the institute seeks responsibility from Kosovo's incumbent government. /Periscope/

Full communication:

Kosovo has had 11,006 employees less during 2024 than in 2023. So over a year, 11,000 jobs have been lost. This, according to the Kosovo Statistics Agency Workers' Survey of 2024 published on May 22nd of this year. During 2023 there were a total of 425,499 employed, while that number was reduced to 414,493 in 2024. In 2023 there are 350 less employed women, and 7256 fewer men.

Kosovo also has a visible decline in the number of active persons (work age people who are employed or registered as active job seekers), 464,567 for 2024, up from 477,350 in 2023. So 12,783 less than 2023. The biggest decline occurs in the category of inactive persons. There the number for 2024 is packed with 84,276 smaller than that in 2023. Non-active persons are citizens of the Republic of Kosovo who are working age (15-64), but are not active in the labour market. They are neither employed nor registered as active job seekers. The number of these people is extremely high. For 2024, the percentage of inactive persons was 56.8%. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the only two countries in the region where the inactive population is higher than active. By comparison, in the first quarter of this year (2025), Albania has had an inactive population of 23.3%.

This activity in the high labor market can be partly explained by informal employment and the overall informal economy. Despite that (which according to previous estimates is considered to be somewhere in 30%) the rate of inactivity is still very high. While we have had continued government statements that for four years governance has succeeded in shaping the economy. Then informality should be smaller. But it's not reducing inactivity.

The percentage of the inactive population becomes even more alarming when it is exposed to gender and age. Total to 398,288 women have been out of the 2024 job market, compared to only 114,410 employed. This is a major historical problem in the labour market, which is one of the most important indicators of gender inequality in our country. Unfortunately, no government has seriously dealt with this problem. The recent measures being taken by the Government, with particular focus on increasing employment in women and addressing this problem, still do not seem to be producing the desired results. In addition to the number of employed women less than last year, it is also seen that when compared with percentages, the rise in men's employment during the year has been 2.5% compared to a much smaller growth of 1.4% in women. While anomalies sound, we have fewer employees in absolute terms in 2024 and then positive rates of employment growth are due to the report by which employment and unemployment rates are estimated. It represents the level of employees compared to the active workforce. Since we have a significant decline in active power, then the percentage of employees increases even when the total number of employees rises.

Despite the country's decline in unemployment, youth (15-24) has increased unemployment, compared to 2023. A total of 19.5% of young people were unemployed in 2017 compared to 17.3% in 2023. Moreover, where this unemployment in men and women breaks out, 24.7% of unemployed youth are women compared to 16.7% who are men.

Another input requiring attention is the percentage of participation in unstable employment in overall employment. 14.5% of overall employment is estimated to be unstable employment. Distorted in absolute terms, it turns out that slightly over 600,000 jobs are accounted for as unstable employment.

But the most alarming data in this survey remains the large decline in the number of inactive and active persons. The total number of inactive persons in 2024 is for 84,276 less than in the preceding year. This clue requires more explanation. With 12,783 active persons less than in 2023, there were a total of 97,059 fewer in the Kosovo workforce. Too high to lose in a year.

The decline of the labor force for nearly 100,000 people in one year cannot be overlooked, related or hid after percentages otherwise calculated.

This requires clear reasoning from the relevant institutions:

What are the reasons for this massive decline?

What measures are specifically being taken to restore citizens to the labour market?

What is the promised progress in formalising the economy and increasing employment?

Why do women and young people continue to stay out of the job market?

We seek responsibility, transparency and concrete action, not narrative for imaginary success.