TIRANA, June 26, 2022 – People living in Albania are more worried about their economic difficulties than any other people of the region, according to a recent regional survey.
In most countries economic worries were the top concern, but nowhere as high as Albania, according to the 2022 Balkan Barometer.
In Albania, 59 percent of respondents ranked the bad economic situation as the biggest problem, compared to 41 percent of Bosnians, 40 percent of citizens from Kosovo, 57 percent of Macedonians, 41 percent of Montenegrins and 46 percent of Serbs.
Unlike the rest of the region, the citizens of Kosovo and Montenegro consider unemployment to be the biggest problem in their economy.
The poor economic situation is a reality even for citizens who have a job in the Balkans. This is due to the fact that the countries of the region and especially Albania suffer from the lack of productivity in the economy, which is the main reason behind the low salaries.
In Albania, following the difficult economic situation and unemployment, people see out-migration, especially brain drain, as the third most important problem with 29 percent of Albanians believing out-migration is worrying for the economic perspective of the country. In other countries of the region, the percentage of people who consider out-migration as a problem for the economy is lower.
In Kosovo and Macedonia, 20 percent of citizens consider the health system a major problem.
Economic development and unemployment remain the two most urgent obstacles in the region, according to the Balkan Barometer.
The current economic situation is considered the biggest challenge by 47 percent of respondents in the Western Balkans. On the other hand, unemployment is more harmful to the economy, according to 39 percent of respondents.
Corruption ranks third again with 27 percent, while the share of those who see out-migration as a negative trend is increasing (18 percent from 13 percent in 2020).
Belief in the socio-economic benefits of EU membership is predominant in the region, with 60 percent approving accession, according to the survey and reporting by Monitor.
