According to Eurostat in 2008, when the crisis started, the number of employees at the age of 20 to 64 years in the country was 46.3 %, while last year, in 2013 reached 50.3 %. In the 28 member states of the European Union is noticed decline in this rate, which in 2008 was 70.3 %, and last year fell to 68.3 %, writes Vecher.
The European debt crisis has left large impact on the Macedonian economy in terms of employment, because as you analyze the data, in 2008 the crisis started when the number of employees aged 20 to 64 years in the country was 46.3 % of the working population, while last year in 2013 it reached 50.3 %. In this five-year period, as analyzed European statisticians in the country is registered continuous growth in employment, while the 28 – member states of the European Union have noticed decline in this rate. In 2008 was 70.3 %, and last year fell to 68.3 %. But still the stronger economies such as Germany registered growth of 74 % to 77.1, but generally at better standing countries is noticed slight decline in employment.
It is similar the situation in the employment of the age group 55 to 64 years, although the 5 – year period of crisis, recession, decreases were registered average growth in these jobs. The 2008 average for member countries of the EU 28 reached 45.5 %, and in 2013 slight growth of 50.1 %. Growth in employment is registered in the Republic of Macedonia, where the rate of 31.7 in 2008 had increase of 37.9 %.
The total number of employees, according to the latest available statistics in the country amounted is 685,479 people, an increase of 119,186 people compared to 2006. In the period from 2007 to 2013 only through various programs and active employment, measures were included total number of 54,958 unemployed people and achieved another 30,524 new jobs.
A positive trend in the labor market was registered last year when the unemployment rate in all four quarters reached 28.6 % which is the lowest unemployment rate since 1996 after conducting the Labor Force Survey. Last year increased the employment rate that exceeds 50 %, which is also the highest rate since 1996.
Macedonian government expects that this year around 10,000 new jobs will be created as primarily due to the investment of foreign investors in the country. However, it is estimated that for the next 4 years, they are expected to reach up to 40,000 new jobs.
In April, as unemployed persons registered in the Agency were 103 250 and additional 115 668 are also looking for work. At the official website of the Agency of Employment are currently seeking employment for 4524 people. Statistics show that the interest is high for sale persons and currently there are vacancies for 571 person, then 312 waiters, warehouse workers 286, 170 tailors, 154 persons for protection of people and property, 141 construction workers for maintain buildings, and on this list are 109 seamstresses, 105 bartenders, 89 fast food sales persons and 84 cooks.
Overall, in the past few years most of the jobs are carried out in the industrial sector and free zones in Macedonia. Analyses show that policies to attract foreign investment and encourage domestic private sector in the past six years in Macedonia created over 100,000 jobs. This will reduce the unemployment rate below the psychological threshold of 30 %. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Zoran Stavreski said that automotive sector and agribusiness are key sectors with the greatest potential for job growth in which country has comparative advantage, but who shows the most interest and investment from foreign companies.
Stavreski believes there is room for higher economic growth in the country and the rapid growth of the two sectors, as well as new investment from the private sector, because those investments are just what you need to drive economic growth in the future. According to him economic growth is what characterizes Macedonia even in times of crisis.
- If we put aside the average of the growth in the past six – seven years of continued European and global recession, it was 2.8 percent and is the fifth best cumulative score in Europe – has repeatedly pointed Stavreski, while recalling that reforms have given real results.
Minister for Economy Valon Saraqini considers that the following period with the implementation of all energy measures for the introduction of energy efficiency in the buildings where located educational institutions, hospitals and public institutions are will be allowed to create about 3,000 new jobs. This project will covered more than 2,400 public buildings, which have in the meantime to get energy passport. In the next few years in energy along with mining are expected more than 2,000 jobs, and on the list of prospective businesses is the agricultural sector where numerous development projects will bring significant number of new jobs.
