Basic occupations lead job demand in 2025

The Albanian labor market has signaled during this period a growing need for workers in almost all major sectors of the economy.

According to figures from the National Agency for Employment and Skills (AKPA), 68,860 job vacancies were registered at Employment Offices in the January-December 2025 period. Compared with the same period a year earlier, this represents a 12% increase, showing that businesses have sought more staff.

As for the breakdown by profession, the statistics show that elementary occupations were the most in demand, accounting for 29.9% of cases. They were followed by craftsmen and related trades, which made up 23.7%, then sales and service workers at 15.9%, as well as industrial workers at 10.5%.

When it comes to positions requiring higher qualifications and specialized skills, AKPA data for 2025 show a smaller share compared with elementary occupations. These jobs often require university education or specific technical training, while in the labor market during this period they accounted for the following percentages: the category “Specialists with higher education” represents only 6.4% of advertised vacancies, seeking candidates with academic training for duties usually related to analysis, project management or specialized technical roles.

Technicians and associate specialists, who often serve as a bridge between management and practical implementation, account for 5.3% of total job vacancies.

The 2025 data clearly support a pattern of demand tilted toward roles requiring basic skills and trades, also influencing how employment policies will be oriented in the coming year.

Throughout 2025, 9,690 different entities submitted their staffing needs to the Employment Offices. The regions of Tirana, Durrës and Vlora together account for the largest share, having announced around 60% of vacancies, while at the other end, Kukës, Dibra and Berat recorded the lowest number of postings.

A look at economic sectors shows that manufacturing tops the list as the sector with the highest demand, with 25.5% of total advertised vacancies. It is followed by accommodation and food service activities with 17.7%, wholesale and retail trade together with the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles with 14.7%, other service activities with 12.1%, and construction with 10.6%.

Compared with a year earlier, demand has undergone noticeable changes: manufacturing recorded a decline of around 3% in advertised vacancies, while construction rose by 2%, reflecting new shifts in the labor market.