Skopje, 29 May 2026 (MIA) - The number of unemployed people in the first quarter of 2026 decreased by 1.0 % compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, while it decreased by 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Of the total number of unemployed persons, 62.4% are unemployed men and 37.6% are unemployed women, according to the State Statistical Office data.

The number of employed persons decreased by 0.3%. Of the total number of employed persons, 57.9% are men and 42.1% are women. The share of informal employment in the first quarter of 2026 is increasing.

Informally employed persons are 94,197, which is 4.3% more than in the previous quarter. The largest number of informally employed persons, 43.6%, is in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sector and 17.5% in the Construction sector.

Data from the State Statistical Office show that the active population is 797,884, including 707,385 employed and 90,499 unemployed persons. The activity rate is 52.5%, the employment rate 46.5%, and the unemployment rate 11.3%.

Photo: MIA