Skopje, 22 February 2023 (MIA) - The approach in tackling youth unemployment showed a clear improvement of labour market situation of young people. In 2021, about 94,000 young people in the country were not employed, not involved in education or training, which corresponds to a quarter of the total young population. This portion, although still large, is decreasing compared to 2016, when 136,000 young people were in the vulnerable categories i.e. around 31.3 percent, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska said Wednesday.

Minister Trenchevska addressing today's event where the experiences, good practices and challenges in the five-year implementation of the Youth Guarantee programme were shared, said that according to the programme objectives, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Government will focus on the efficient implementation of the Youth Guarantee with the aim of providing better access of young people to the labor market.

“Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Government started implementing the Youth Guarantee in 2018. Since its introduction in 2018, more than 80,000 young people have registered for the Youth Guarantee, while 40% of them received job offer, education and training, were involved in an internship which is considered a positive outcome. One of our main priorities is the reduction of youth unemployment, that is, increasing employability among young people,” Trenchevska said.

“When reviewing development policies in general, one of the most important questions we must address is are we’re doing enough for young people. When we hear that young people want to leave the country we cannot help but ask are we providing them with sufficient opportunities to obtain a quality education, training or a job at home. This is a valid question, here in the Western Balkans but also in the EU member states. Young people are naturally asking to play a stronger role in shaping the society and in shaping our economies, not tomorrow, today,” EU Ambassador David Geer said addressing the event.

Employment Service Agency director Bekim Murati added that the situation with unemployment among young people is unfavorable in the countries of the Western Balkans and the countries are facing a large challenge.

“The growth of our economies should be translated into job opportunities, and promoting youth employment should be our top priority. We need a targeted response. A group of young people are exposed to the risks of long-term unemployment and early leaving education. Young people are at the core of the priorities of all modern countries, they are the key to future dynamism and prosperity, and their talents, skills and creativity are essential to ensure growth and competitiveness everywhere in the world,” Murati said.

The event is held within the framework of the support provided by the International Labor Organization (ILO), under the EU/ILO Technical Assistance Facility on the Youth Guarantee. The experiences of several countries in the EU in regard to unemployed youth, and youth not in employment, education or training were presented during today’s event.

Photo: Aslan Vishko