2026

In the framework of the National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023-2030, the document: Annual Progress Report 2025 has been published.
Quality Jobs and Life-Long Skills for All

The year 2025 marked the third year of implementation of the National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023–2030 (NESS 2030), Albania's overarching policy framework for promoting quality employment, lifelong learning and more inclusive labor market participation. This Annual Progress Report presents the main reforms, developments and results achieved during the reporting year, structured in line with the Strategy's two overarching policy goals: 

(1) skills development and better matching of supply with demand in the labor market, for increased employment; and 

(2) fostering decent employment for women and men through the implementation of inclusive labor market policies.
Implementation in 2025 also remained closely connected to Albania's broader EU integration agenda. Progress in labor market governance, VET quality assurance, mobility-related reforms, digitalisation and legislative approximation continued to support alignment with the EU acquis and the country's wider reform commitments.

In particular, the implementation of NESS 2030 gained additional significance within the framework of Albania's EU Reform Agenda under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, as several priorities
actions under the reform agenda are directly linked to the milestones and measures of the Strategy.
In this context, NESS 2030 continued to function not only as a national development framework, but also as a key vehicle for advancing EU-related reforms in employment, skills and social policy. 

2026-03-31-FINAL-Draft-Progress-Report-2025_revised.pdf

2025

The Vocational Education System according to the Dual Form

The dual vocational education system in Albania is an initiative that aims to connect theoretical learning in schools with work practice in companies, offering better employment opportunities for young people and addressing the needs of the labor market. This model has begun to be implemented during the 2024-2025 school year, for 5 teaching profiles in 10 vocational high schools in Albania, in cooperation with over 100 companies in 6 regions of the country. The dual system is now being offered in 8 municipalities from 6 that was a year ago, where for the first time with the municipalities of Berat and Korçë.

Instruction no. 1090, dated 12.12.2024 “On the procedures for planning and implementing vocational education and training in the dual form”

Agjencia Kombëtare e Punësimit dhe Aftësive

2024

National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023–2030

The National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023–2030 is an important part of Albania's long-term strategic framework defined by the National Strategy for Development and European Integration 2030 (NSDEI 2030) which provides directions and defines the priorities for the sustainable economic and social development of the country on the path of its integration into the European Union, including the linkage with the Sustainable Development Goals in order to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda by defining the vision for the development of democracy, social and economic development of the country during the period 2021–2030.
The implementation of the National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023–2030 is equally closely linked to the country's development priorities defined in the NSDEI 2030 and included in its second pillar, "Agenda for Sustainable Economic Development, Connectivity and Green Growth". Connectivity, the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, as part of the European Union's Economic and Investment Plan for these countries, including Albania, are at the heart of the second pillar of the NSZHEI 2030. Together with the long-term priorities identified for the country in the NSZHEI 2030 – tourism, energy, agriculture and digitalization, they also constitute the clearest direction for the orientation of demand and preparation of supply in the Albanian labor market for the period up to 2030. The main challenges of Albania 2030, identified in the NSZHEI 2030 with the need for green transition, digital transformation, demographic developments, and the necessity of increasing productivity towards a more competitive economy in the open market of the region and beyond, are reflected in the approach that this strategy brings to employment and skills development.

Agjencia Kombëtare e Punësimit dhe Aftësive

60 percent of those enrolled in VET education already employed. 

60 percent of students enrolled in VET related education are employed before they finish their school education. Although the number of those enrolled has fallen as a result of demographic changes, the share of students that are employed before they finish their education by businesses due to high demand in skilled personnel has increased. Over 60 percent of students enrolled in a certain subject are employed after completing their study within the subject they are specialized.