Factories Across Albania Operate With No Employees
In the heart of Eastern Europe, Albania is navigating a complex landscape of emigration and immigration that is impacting its population, economy, and social fabric.
Today in the East, a news platform focusing on Eastern Germany and neighbouring countries, has been shedding light on this evolving situation.
The ongoing emigration of mainly young, working-age individuals has led to a significant depletion of Albania's labour market and a sharp decline in the working-age population. Over the past decade, an average of about 50,000 Albanians have left the country each year, resulting in a total emigration of around 600,000 people from 2012 to 2024.
This mass exodus has triggered what has been dubbed "demographic anxiety" among those remaining, exacerbating demographic decline due to a falling birth rate and an aging population. The consequences are severe, with Albania losing at least 14% of its population between 2011 and 2023.
Economically, the brain drain effect, primarily the emigration of the younger and more skilled workforce, weakens the economy and depletes the labour market. Projections indicate that by 2050, the labour force could decrease by 20–25%. This labor shortage threatens to undermine economic growth and resilience amid already fragile social services and governance challenges, including high living costs and corruption.
In an attempt to address this issue, the Albanian government has been hiring foreign workers from Southeast Asia to fill labor shortages caused by emigration. The number of work permits issued to foreigners has tripled between 2020 and 2023, and the government has simplified procedures for hiring foreign workers to fill labor gaps.
However, migration researcher Dhimiter Doka views this as a short-term solution, causing additional costs for companies and instability in the labor market. He suggests that the ongoing emigration is a problem that is difficult to stop.
One example of the increasing number of foreign workers in Albania is Joy, a worker from Myanmar. Despite the hot weather, Joy prefers to stay in Albania due to its beauty and peaceful atmosphere.
The immigration trends in Albania are not limited to foreign workers. Many migrants are using Albania as a stepping stone to Western Europe. Between 2015 and 2020, over 300,000 Albanians applied for a residence permit in the EU, most in Italy, Greece, and Germany.
The ongoing emigration of Albanians is not without controversy. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's suggestion of hiring workers from Bangladesh or Pakistan who would not be interested in politics, democracy, or freedom, was met with criticism.
Moreover, the Islamic Bektashi dervish order in Albania is planning to establish its own state, causing tensions.
Despite efforts to combat corruption, it remains persistently high in Albania. Women in Albania face domestic violence and patriarchal traditions, with a woman building the first Albanian military vehicle as a notable exception.
As the emigration wave continues, the government is implicitly calculating with it, not only for financial reasons, but also as a valve for citizens dissatisfied with low wages and widespread corruption in the country.
The article also mentions a visit to a field in Saxony-Anhalt for the strawberry and asparagus harvest, highlighting the impact of emigration on Albania's agricultural sector. The asparagus and strawberry harvest in Albania is facing difficulties due to the shortage of seasonal workers.
In summary, Albania is grappling with a continued outflow of mainly young, working-age individuals, leading to population decline, aging demographics, and significant economic and social challenges related to labor market shortages and weakened institutional capacity. The government's efforts to address these challenges through immigration and the hiring of foreign workers provide a short-term solution, but the long-term implications and the sustainability of this approach remain to be seen.
The ongoing emigration of young, working-age individuals from Albania has led to a significant shortage in the labor market, especially in the agricultural sector, as the harvest of asparagus and strawberries faces difficulties due to a lack of seasonal workers.
On the other hand, immigration trends in Albania extend beyond foreign workers, with many migrants using Albania as a stepping stone to Western Europe.
