Albania is attracting foreigners. The aim to replace the workforce from other countries, albeit with ups and downs, is yielding results. According to data from the Employment and Skills Agency, last year the number of foreign citizens with work permits reached almost 13 thousand. This figure is significantly higher than in previous years.
"They are mainly employed in tourism. There is also an increase in the declaration of foreign workers due to fear of controls," Ergesta Stërmasi, a labor market expert, told A2 CNN.
According to data from the National Employment and Skills Agency, the majority of foreign workers who have come to Albania so far are from Turkey, Egypt, the Philippines, India, China or Ukraine.
"This is a short-term solution. It is an experiment, the results of which have been shown before. Our attention must be on the young people in the country. There are also many costs to their behavior," Stërmasi added.
How much does a foreign employee cost?
"A foreign employee costs up to 3,500 euros to bring to Albania. This includes transportation costs, legal procedures and accommodation," the employment expert explains to A2 CNN.
In addition to those coming to work, in recent years there has been an increase in the demand for residence permits from those who simply want to live in Albania. Data from the Ministry of Interior shows that last year there were 13,176 requests for residence permits, up from just over 12,000 in 2023.
The majority of requests came from Italians with 2,156, followed by Indians, Turks, and citizens from Kosovo. (A2 Televizion)
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