Foreign Workers Divide the Balkans, from the Most Supportive Countries to the Most Skeptical

Labor shortages have become a problem for Western Balkan countries in recent years, mainly due to the high level of emigration among young people. As a result, vacant positions are now being filled by migrants arriving from other countries.

However, citizens of the region’s six countries do not share the same view on allowing foreign nationals to work in their economies when jobs are available. The Regional Cooperation Council’s “Security Meter 2025” survey shows that, at the regional level, this policy is supported by an average of 57% of respondents. Some 33% oppose it, while 10% express no opinion.

Albania leads in support for foreign workers, with 77% of respondents in favor. It is followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the figure reaches 62%, and Kosovo, with 61%.

In North Macedonia, allowing foreign nationals to work is supported by 53% of citizens, a figure close to the regional average. Serbia and Montenegro are more reserved, with support standing at 44% and 43%, respectively.

Montenegro is the only country where the number of opponents exceeds that of supporters. Around 46% of Montenegrin citizens oppose the employment of foreigners, while 43% support it.

In Serbia, 36% of respondents expressed opposition, while 21% did not answer. This is the highest percentage in the entire region of people who were undecided or declined to respond.

North Macedonia also has a relatively high share of citizens with no opinion, at 14%, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina the figure is 12%. In Kosovo, the share of those who did not answer is just 3%, while in Albania it is 2%.

Overall, the data shows that the majority of citizens in most of the Western Balkans support immigration for employment reasons, although attitudes vary from one country to another.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo emerge as the most open, while Montenegro and Serbia display greater skepticism.

These differences are linked to the state of the labor market, labor shortages, the level of emigration, and the way citizens perceive competition for employment.

In economies where businesses are unable to find enough workers, employing foreign nationals is viewed more as a way to fill vacant positions.