Albania offers one of the best low-cost manufacturing options in Europe; with monthly wages among the lowest on the continent.

Occupation groups (Q4 2022)

Avg. wages / month

Mangers

€970

Professionals

€767

Technicians and Associate Professionals

€646

Clerical Support Workers

€613

Services and Sales Workers

€445

Plant and Machine Operators, and Assemblers

€436

Craft and Related Trades Workers

€418

Skilled Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Workers

€380

Workers (Elementary Occupations)

€368

SOURCE: INSTAT (http://www.instat.gov.al/en/themes/labour-market-and-education/labour-costs/)

With average monthly salaries of €580, Albania has the lowest wages in the region (Bosnia = €943, Bulgaria = €995, Kosovo = €538, Montenegro = €957, North Macedonia = €818, Serbia = €700).

SOURCE: https://take-profit.org/en/statistics/wages/

Albania has a young population with ~1.6 million residents between 20 and 60.

Age range

Population (thousands)

20 - 29 years old

443

30 - 39 years old

386

40 - 49 years old

326

50 - 59 years old

382

Albania has a total population of > 2.8 million people and an additional 2.5 million Albanian speakers can be found in the bordering countries of Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

Recruiting for manufacturing positions in Albania is favorable, as compared to other countries in the region, largely driven by high youth unemployment (>20%). Also, Albania still has a large agricultural workforce that view manufacturing positions positively, with 30% of the workforce currently employed in the sector (vs. 15% in North Macedonia and Serbia).

SOURCE:
INSTAT (http://www.instat.gov.al/)
https://www.statista.com/statistics/454897/employment-by-economic-sector-in-albania/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/811614/youth-unemployment-rate-in-albania/

Education is of high priority among the youth with >15k graduating from university every year and ~ 40% of people between ages 25-64 speaking at least one foreign language, predominantly English.

University graduates (per year)

~18k

STEM graduates (per year)

~5k

Percent speaking foreign language (ages 25-65)

39.9%

English is mandatory for all students starting in the first grade and Level B2 English proficiency is required to graduate with a Bachelor's degree.

SOURCE: INSTAT (http://www.instat.gov.al/en/themes/labour-market-and-education/education/)