Young people and the labor market in Albania
Young people and the labor market in Albania

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the status of Albanian young people. In 1986 Albania had the youngest population in Europe. Now the percent of the young population is in decrease which is more emphasized at the young group from 20 to 24 years. This decrease is related to the migration abroad, but also to the decrease of the birth rate, of the general population in Albania. Although, in the twenty years period 1986-2006, the age average is increased from 26 to 31.7 years, again the population in Albania is considered as a young population, with potentials to accomplish the needs of the labor market. Differendy from the official reports that the highest percent of the unemployment is at the age 35 and older, comes out that the percent of the youth unemployment is twice higher in relation with their percent in the total number of the population capable for work. The main economic activity in which the young people are employed seems to be agriculture. It is established that over 60 percent of the young people at the age 15-29 are employed in this branch. But it's far away from the standards of the real labor market. The second main sector of the youth employment is that of business-services. But the employment in this sector is quite unstable because of the extreme number of the same-type business firms, beyond the consumption needs. The third sector, considering the employment of the young people, is the building\constructing sector. However, this sector is developed mainly for the consumption buildings (mainly apartments, not industrial buildings). This sector could in the mid-term period, reach saturation point, beyond which its importance in the Albanian economy will decrease. Consequendy the employment of the young people in this sector will decrease too. Most of the young people do not continue their studies in schools addressed for special sectors of the labor market. Mitgration is considered a permanent employment alternative of Albanian young people during the post communist period. The exodus of a considerable number of Albanians, majority of which are young, it is specified as the most dramatic of the migratory fluxes of the new Europe. We find that the percentage of the Albanian emigrants in relation with the number of population is higher than the official data shows. At least one of third Albanians had emigrated in Greece, Italy or 20-25 other countries. The integration processes shows in the horizon a Europe "without internal borders, in which the free movement of goods, people, services and capitals will be ensured". Albania is a part of this process too ....

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