papunësia e të rinjve

Despite steady decreases in recent years, youth unemployment remains a persistent problem in North Macedonia. In the third quarter of 2024, the rate had declined by nearly 5 percentage points from the average rate in 2023 and almost 9 percentage points from 2022.[1] However, North Macedonia’s youth unemployment rates have been significantly higher than the EU averages – almost 10 percentage points higher in 2023.[2]

The NSG has identified several causes. One of the biggest is a skills mismatch.[3] School curricula are not aligned with the needs of the labour market, so young people are inadequately prepared for the work environment. Getting work experience can also be a struggle, as many entry-level jobs paradoxically require prior work experience.[4] These challenges are compounded by nepotism and corruption in both education and employment, which hinder fair access to the labour market and lead to a perception that effort is not rewarded.

Long-term unemployment is a major issue in the country. In February 2023, about 73 % of all unemployed in North Macedonia had been jobless for more than one year, according to ILO.[5] Long-term unemployment concerns also many young people. First, the longer a person remains unemployed and unable to receive training, the more likely they are to suffer from skills erosion and from mental fatigue due to discouragement. In addition, a substantial portion of unemployed people in general engage in informal employment. Faced with these challenges, many young people decide to leave the country, leading to a brain drain.[6]

The government has introduced several measures over the past few years to reduce youth unemployment. One is the implementation of the European Youth Guarantee, which ensures that young people aged 15-29 get an offer of employment, education, training or internship within four  months of registering as unemployed.[7] The programme also provides career counselling, professional guidance and subsidized employment opportunities. National internship and apprenticeship programmes facilitate the access of young people to the labour market, as do traineeship programmes for vulnerable groups. The Digital Skills Development Program provides young people with in-demand IT skills, whilst the Training and Retraining Initiatives upskill young people in professions aligned with market needs. To promote the employment of young people, the government introduced Subsidized Employment and Wage Support to provide financial incentives for businesses to hire young people.

[1] UNDP North Macedonia (2024), “Youth challenges transferred in solutions: What UNDP North Macedonia does on the subject”: https://www.undp.org/north-macedonia/news/youth-challenges-transferred-solutions-what-undp-north-macedonia-does-subject

[2] Eurostat (2025), “Unemployment by sex and age – annual data”: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/une_rt_a__custom_18330547/default/table

[3] Cvetkoska, V. et al. (2025), “Comparative Analysis of Skill Shortages, Skill Mismatches, and the Threats of Migration in Labor Markets: A Sectoral Approach in North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ethiopia, and Ukraine”: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/5/294

[4] European Commission (2025), “Youth Wiki: Republic of North Macedonia: 3. Employment & Entrepreneurship: 3.1 General context”: https://national-policies.eacea.ec.europa.eu/youthwiki/chapters/republic-of-north-macedonia/31-general-context

[5] ILO (2025), “DECENT WORK COUNTRY PROGRAMME 2023–2025- North Macedonia”: https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/DWCP%20North%20Macedonia%202023-2025.pdf

[6] Generation (2025), “The Impact of Youth Unemployment on Economic Growth”: https://www.generation.org/news/the-impact-of-youth-unemployment-on-economic-growth/

[7] Employment Service Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia (2025), “Youth Guarantee”: https://av.gov.mk/youth-guarantee.nspx

Paga adekuate

Since the major reform of September 2017, when the Law on Minimum Wage amendments eliminated sectoral differences (especially ending lower minimums in labour-intensive sectors like textile, leather, and footwear) and established a universal monthly minimum wage of MKD 17,130 gross (around €277 ) for all sectors, workers in North Macedonia have steadily gained from a more equal and predictable wage floor. Subsequent increases followed in 2018-2022[1], and in March 2024 the minimum gross wage was raised to MKD 33,352 (around €540), with a corresponding net minimum of MKD 22,567 (around €265), under a methodology that ties the minimum wage to half the increase in average wages plus half the rise in the cost-of-living index, and mandates that it cannot fall below 57% of the average net wage.[2]

Shëndeti dhe siguria në punë

Occupational health and safety (OSH) are currently still governed by the Law on Safety and Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, which dates back to 2007. A new legislative framework on OSH has been announced in 2019 and an initial draft was prepared by end-2020 and consultations have been held with employers, workers, inspectorates, experts, and other stakeholders. Key features that have been announced include stronger enforcement powers and inspections, improved regulatory secondary legislation, clearer employer obligations and preventive rules, greater awareness-raising and capacity-building, and a reinforced culture of prevention in workplaces. However, as of mid-2024, the new law has not yet been formally adopted. As such, the OSH system of North Macedonia is in dire need of an updated framework, as the current framework has several problems.

One is a need for inter-institutional cooperation and oversight. Whilst the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is the national focal point and the official representative to EU-OSHA,[3] the Ministry of Economy and Labour has been in charge of the State Labour Inspectorate (SLI) since the 2024 state restructure. SLI inspections highlight a need for increased enforcement. The reallocation brings potential benefits — notably closer alignment between labour-market and economic policy and short-term increases in attention and budgetary resources — but also raises governance risks, including possible conflicts between economic promotion and regulatory enforcement, transition-related capacity gaps, and a need for stronger oversight arrangements.[4]  In 2023, 22 938 inspections were carried out, of which 5 543 led to judgements. Of these, 994 concerned payment orders, 112 were misdemeanours, and 35 were criminal offences.[5] The need for enforcement is also underscored by tragic incidents. A fire in a Kočani nightclub in 2025 led to 59 fatalities[6] due to a combination of several safety violations, including overcrowding, a lack of emergency exits and the absence of fire safety equipment. Investigations later revealed that the club’s licensing was not in order, and bribery and corruption allegations were raised against safety oversight officials.

Dialogu social

Social dialogue in North Macedonia takes place through the Economic and Social Council (ESC), which functions as a forum for bipartite and tripartite discussions.[7] Representative organizations include the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Macedonia and the Organization of Employers of Macedonia. But their influence and capacity remain limited, the NSG points out. Union membership is declining in North Macedonia, especially in the private sector and among informal workers, and unions are finding it hard to attract new members.[8] The declining membership weakens unions’ representative force and the impact of collective bargaining. The NSG expresses concern over the influence political parties exercise on collective bargaining which jeopardises its impact. While official documents frequently signal reforms aimed at improving North Macedonia’s bipartite and tripartite social dialogue structures in line with EU standards, many of these remain at the stage of proposal or drafting rather than fully implemented.[9]

[1] Official Gazette, No. 41/2022

[2] Papazoski and Mishlev Law Firm (2025), “Legal Alert – Amendments of the Macedonian Law on Minimum Wage”: https://www.papazoski-mishev.mk/en/publications/legal-alert—amendments-of-the-macedonian-law-on-minimum-wage.

[3] European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2025), “North Macedonia”: https://osha.europa.eu/en/about-eu-osha/national-focal-points/north-macedonia

[4] SIGMA & OECD (2024), “Public Administration in the Republic of North Macedonia 2024”: https://www.sigmaweb.org/en/publications/public-administration-in-the-republic-of-north-macedonia-2024_071bad9d-en.html

[5] European Commission (2024), “North Macedonia 2024 Report”: https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/5f0c9185-ce46-46fc-bf44-82318ab47e88_en?filename=North+Macedonia+Report+2024.pdf

[6] AP News (2025), “Protesters demanding greater accountability march in North Macedonia over deadly nightclub fire”: https://apnews.com/article/north-macedonia-protests-nightclub-fire-103b8f609979c855e2e809601d4b34d6

[7] ILO, Guardiancich, I. & Romo, O. M. (2019), “Towards effective and functional social dialogue in North Macedonia: comparative analysis between the Economic and Social Council of North Macedonia and National Social Dialogue Institutions of Member States of the European Union”: https://researchrepository.ilo.org/esploro/outputs/book/Towards-effective-and-functional-social-dialogue/995219128102676#file-1

[8] European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research (2021), “Policy Brief 2021/18: The case of North Macedonia: Posted workers – developing patterns and trends*”: https://www.euro.centre.org/downloads/detail/4207

[9] International Labour Organization (2023), “Decent Work Country Programme 2023-25 North Macedonia”: https://www.ilo.org/resource/decent-work-country-programme-2023-25-north-macedonia

Zhdukja e varfërisë

Due to the difficulty of gathering data on poverty in North Macedonia, many of the most recent statistics reference past years. The at-risk-of-poverty rate was 22.2% in 2023, a 0.7 percentage point decrease from 2022, according to the World Bank.[1] This data is corroborated by the State Statistical Office of North Macedonia.[2] Certain demographics are particularly affected by poverty, notably households with children or in which the adults have lower levels of education. Ethnicity seems to play an important role, and the Roma population is overrepresented in the lowest income groups. In 2024, 55% of North Macedonia’s non-Roma population lived in material deprivation, but the percentage was 87% for the Roma population, the World Bank pointed out.[3] Roma children are three times more likely to grow up in poverty. They often suffer from multidimensional poverty, meaning they are materially deprived and also have insufficient access to care and education. This form of poverty also affects children in rural areas and from economically disadvantaged households. Roma women have a particularly low employment rate: Only 8% are formally employed.[4] North Macedonia has several measures to combat poverty. The general minimum assistance (GMA), a guaranteed minimum income scheme, had an important spike in beneficiaries in 2022, a 45% increase in beneficiaries from 2021. Beneficiaries represented 5.85% of the population, or 36 092 households. The number decreased slightly in 2023, to 35 380 households, but this was still high. [5] Beneficiaries of the one-off financial assistance schemes for first and second newborns decreased slightly to 5 071 households in 2023 from 5 916 in 2022.[6]

Praktika e mirë:

North Macedonia has launched several initiatives that utilize market systems development,[7] an inclusive approach to integrating people in poverty into the labour market. It focuses on the causes that prevent people from entering the market[8] by employing a people-centred view to improve their situation. This provides people in poverty with opportunities rather than classic cash benefits.

One example is the Income Increase and Socio-Economic Empowerment (IISEE) programme, which focuses on rural and suburban areas, where it seeks to improve market linkages and create income opportunities for people in poverty. It invests in sectors such as agriculture, stimulating systemic changes that align the market better with the needs of people in poverty. These needs can include income (from produce, for example), goods (livestock or seeds) and services (veterinary). The IISEE has the potential to positively affect a lot of people, as a third of North Macedonia’s workforce work in agriculture.

Qasja në kujdesin e fëmijëve

North Macedonia has enhanced its early childhood development facilities (kindergartens that focus on holistic development of children: physical, cognitive, emotional, and social)  in recent years. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is in charge of these facilities as well as public kindergartens, which are the main forms of childcare for children aged up to six years old. Both forms are heavily subsidized, but access to them is often affected by social, economic and institutional factors. Underprivileged groups – in particular Roma children, children with disabilities and children in poor households – face disproportionate difficulty in accessing early childhood services. Hidden costs, like school material, and a lack of transport are important barriers.[9]

The enrolment rates in these care services remain relatively low, also due to the lack of availability of these services and dedicated infrastructure. Childcare and pre-school capacity increased to 1 072 spaces by March 2024, reaching a coverage rate of 34.5% of all children aged up to six, according to the European Commission’s North Macedonia Progress Report 2024.[10] However, coverage in rural areas is significantly lower than in cities, and rural and marginalized communities often have to contend with poor infrastructure too.[11] 21 rural municipalities have no public kindergarten at all, leaving some 17,000 children under age 6 with no local access to state preschool. Only about 37% of kindergarten/ECD facilities are located in rural municipalities, compared to 63% in urban ones, demonstrating a large infrastructure gap.[12] In general, insufficient places are available at the facilities. They already operate at maximum capacity and suffer from a lack of trained staff and a high child-to-staff ratio.

[1] World Bank Group (2025), “Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) – North Macedonia”: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.NAHC?locations=MK

[2] State Statistical Office (2025), “Laeken poverty indicators, 2023”: https://www.stat.mk/en/stat/population-and-living-conditions/standard-of-living/laeken-poverty-indicators/laeken-poverty-indicators/

[3] World Bank (2024), “Improving Access to Services and Economic Opportunity for North Macedonia’s Roma”: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/northmacedonia/brief/improving-access-to-services-and-economic-opportunity-for-north-macedonia-s-roma

[4] Ibid.

[5] Finance Thinks (2022), “Overhaul of the social assistance system in Macedonia: Simulating the effects of introducing Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) scheme”: https://www.financethink.mk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Policy-Study-11.pdf

[6] State Statistics Office (2025), “Sociјalna i zdravstvena zaštita”: https://www.stat.gov.mk/OblastOpsto.aspx?id=3

[7] We effect (2021), ”Making markets work for the poor in North Macedonia”: https://www.weeffect.org/news/making-markets-work-for-the-poor-in-north-macedonia/

[8] Education and Economy SDC Thematic Network (2024), “Market systems development”: https://www.sdc-economy-education.ch/en/market-systems-development

[9] UN Women (2020), “Investing in free universal childcare in the Republic of North Macedonia: Analysis of costs, short-term employment effects and fiscal revenue”: https://eca.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/02/study-investing-in-free-universal-childcare-in-the-republic-of-north-macedonia

[10] European Commission (2024), “North Macedonia Report 2024”: https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/north-macedonia-report-2024_en

[11] UNICEF (2025), “Situation analysis of children and adolescents in North Macedonia 2024”: https://www.unicef.org/northmacedonia/reports/situation-analysis-children-and-adolescents-north-macedonia-2024

[12] Reactor (2024), “AVAILABILITY OF KINDERGARTENS AND GENDER EQUALITY IN THE LABOUR MARKET”: https://reactor.org.mk/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/dostapnost_gradinki_en.pdf

Dialog civil

The CIVICUS Monitor classifies civic space in North Macedonia as “Narrowed”, a classification which has not changed since 2018.[1] This classification means that individuals and CSOs are able to exercise their civic rights, such as freedom of association and peaceful assembly, yet there are also restrictions and violations of these rights. People are free to form associations and participate in discussions on policy.

North Macedonia has a seemingly supportive environment for CSO participation. The government made the 2022-2024 Strategy for Civil Society Cooperation a priority.[2] [3] CSOs are able to take part in national discussions, through the Council for Open Government and the Council for Cooperation between Government and Civil Society. However, several factors mean that these mechanisms for civic engagement often only allow formal involvement, rather than meaningful participation. Consultations often have very short timeframes, preventing CSOs from providing meaningful and thorough input. In addition, there is a lack of government feedback on CSOs’ input. As a result, despite these formal frameworks, CSOs still report being excluded from crucial policy and legislative discussions.[4] Consistent, institutionalized dialogue remains an issue, and most positive collaboration takes place on an ad-hoc basis. The European Commission already pointed out in 2022 that the policymaking process needs to be more transparent and that the civil society consultation process needs to be more inclusive.[5]

[1] CIVICUS (2025), “CIVICUS Monitor – North Macedonia”: https://monitor.civicus.org/country/macedonia/

[2] Qeveria e Republikës së Maqedonisë së Veriut (2021), “STRATEGY of the Government of Republic of North Macedonia for Cooperation and Development of Civil Society with Action Plan 2022 – 2024″: https://rcgo.mk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/government-strategy-on-cooperation-2022-2024.pdf

[3] United Nations Development Coordination Office (2025), “North Macedonia’s Development Vision”: https://un-dco.org/stories/north-macedonias-new-development-vision

[4] Balkan Civil Society Development Network (2023), “What went wrong with the Council for cooperation of the Government with Civil Society in North Macedonia?”: https://balkancsd.net/what-went-wrong-with-the-council-for-cooperation-of-the-government-with-civil-society-in-north-macedonia-2/#:~:text=CSOs%20are%20voicing%20their%20concerns,consultations%20with%20civil%20society%20and

[5] European Commission (2022), “Key finding of the 2022 Report on North Macedonia”: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/pt/country_22_6092

Punë të mira të gjelbra

The creation of decent green jobs is an important tool for North Macedonia to achieve alignment with its EU accession goals. Projections indicate that up to 10 000 green jobs could be created by 2035.[1] These are defined by UNEVOC as jobs that “contribute to social equality and the preservation, renewal, and improvement of the environment, while also being productive, providing solid income, job safety, social protection, and opportunities for personal development”.[2] The energy-efficiency and renewable-energy sectors are the main sectors with potential to help North Macedonia realize its commitment under the Paris Climate Agreement to lowering carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.

North Macedonia needs to overcome several challenges to realize this green job growth, the NSG points out. Firstly, vocational training profiles need to be expanded to include green skills training, so as to meet the demands of the evolving green job market. More generally, education and information are needed to improve the public’s understanding of the green economy and green jobs. Secondly, substantial investments, estimated at around $6.4 billion over the next decade, are needed to achieve the country’s climate adaptation goals. North Macedonia has historically been highly reliant on fossil fuels such as coal, so a dedicated just transition plan is also needed to detail the precise allocations and uses of this budget. The government is currently working on a smart specialization strategy to attract foreign direct investment and bolster green industries.[3] Lastly, as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will play an important role in achieving the climate goals and in green job creation, the hurdles they face also need to be addressed. In particular, complex administrative processes and the lack of clear regulation can prove challenging. The Swiss Modernization Project seeks to do this by helping SMEs enhance their productivity and environmental performance. [4] The first phase of the project runs from 2024 until 2028 and seeks to support 190 SMEs. The UN’s Green Finance Facility seeks to assist SMEs by providing them with affordable financing. [5] The facility also provides financing to underserved households, particularly those that are economically disadvantaged such as single parents, migrants and national minorities including Roma.

Aksesi në energji dhe varfëria energjetike

Whilst North Macedonia has significantly upgraded its energy infrastructure, ensuring near universal access to electricity, energy poverty continues to be a major problem. The rate is between 30% and 40% depending on the definition of energy poverty, the NSG indicates. However, the European Environment Agency suggests that the energy poverty rate, defined as the number of households unable to keep their house adequately warm, is around 23.9%.[6]

Rural areas are particularly affected.[7] Many rural and low-income families still rely on solid fuels, such as wood and coal, to heat their homes, as access to natural gas is limited. These families often rely on low-efficiency stoves, and their homes are not adequately thermally isolated. Both these factors further push up their heating costs. Though electricity is available, it has become inaccessible for many families due to the sharp increase in prices that has followed regional energy crises and market liberalization. Furthermore, the quality and efficiency of the electric grid vary across North Macedonia, and the cost of energy is simply disproportionate for many vulnerable households, such as those consisting of Roma or the elderly, those headed by single parents and those living in informal housing. The burning of solid fuels is also an important cause of air pollution in North Macedonia.[8]

[1] Kostadinov, A. & European Training Foundation (2025), “Skills for green jobs in North Macedonia”: https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/skills-green-jobs-north-macedonia

[2] UNESCO (2025), “TVETipedia Glossary: Green jobs”: https://unevoc.unesco.org/home/tvetipedia+glossary/lang=en/show=term/term=Green+jobs

[3] World Bank Group (2024), “North Macedonia—Country Climate and Development Report: Key Highlights”: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/northmacedonia/publication/north-macedonia-country-climate-and-development-report-key-highlights

[4] Swiss contact (2025), “Swiss Modernisation Project”: https://www.swisscontact.org/en/projects/modernisation-project

[5] Joint SDG Fund (2025), “North Macedonia’s Path to Cleaner Energy and Air Quality”: https://www.jointsdgfund.org/article/north-macedonias-path-cleaner-energy-and-air-quality

[6] European Environment Agency (2025), “Country profile: Europe’s environment 2025: North Macedonia”: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/europe-environment-2025/countries/north-macedonia?activeTab=bcf592dc-3b4f-4464-909a-018793554ed5

[7] Energy Community Secretariat (2024), “Annual Implementation Report”: https://www.energy-community.org/publications/flagships/IRs.html

[8] UNDP North Macedonia (2025), “Green Finance Facility to Improve Air Quality and Combat Climate Change in North Macedonia”: https://www.undp.org/north-macedonia/projects/green-finance-facility-improve-air-quality-and-combat-climate-change-north-macedonia