Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination

3.3 Social policy
Albania’s Human Development Index (HDI—UNDP Human Development Index) 2007–2008 ranked it as
a medium income country (index, 0.801), 68th out of 177 evaluated countries. This country is characterised
by a high labour force potential concentrated at the most productive age and the creation of new work places
represents one of the most complex challenges and calls for support in the form of macroeconomic stimulation
policies, a favourable climate for business development and sound and stable education policies.
Employment and employment promotion policies and the opening of new work places were among government’s
main priorities, but also among the most difficult to be achieved, under the conditions of a deep restructuring
of the economy, especially of the industrial and manufacturing sectors. The opening of new work places is a
multi-sectoral phenomenon, and includes macroeconomic policies and favourable policies for business, as
well as education and social policies, etc. Therefore, the government took multi-sectoral measures to ease the
problem. The most favourable fiscal policies were devised and implemented in order to support business and
development of the economy and that represented the main indicator for development of the labour market
and opening of new work places.
Furthermore, a switch from passive to proactive employment policies, increase in salaries and social assistance,
particularly for marginalised categories, and the creation of conditions and possibilities for full employment and
in accordance with the professional skills of all involved has resulted in development of the labour market.
3.3.1 employment
Indicator: Level of unemployment by age group and gender
The official unemployment level at the end of 2008 had fallen to 13 per cent compared to 14.1 per cent at the
end of 2005, recording a one per cent decrease. At the end of 2008, unemployment among males was 12.45 per
cent, while for females it was one per cent higher, at 13.54 per cent.
In co-operation with the National Employment Service new employment growth policies were implemented,
as a result of which 6,235 jobseekers found work. 2,000 of these belonged to special groups (e.g. beneficiaries
of economic support, women older than 35 years, unemployed older than 50 years, Roma, orphans, long-term
unemployed, youths between 16 and 25 years old, people with social problems, those who lost their job through
restructuring of economy, etc). Against a background of switching from passive to proactive employment
policies, around 35,000 jobseekers became employed with the assistance of the employment, counselling and
mediation offices.
Figure 24. Unemployment level by age
21
18
15
12
2005
9
6
2006
3
2007
0
up to 19 years
20-24 years
25-34 years
35-45 years
up 45 years
2008
46
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