As of the end of June, Montenegro’s Employment Agency (ZZZ) reported 34,720 unemployed individuals, translating to a registered unemployment rate of 11.56%. The ZZZ Management Board, led by Aleksandar Šipčić, reviewed and approved the mid-year report, highlighting notable progress in the country’s labor market.
The report indicates a substantial decrease in unemployment, with a reduction of 5,590 individuals or 13.87%, and a drop in the unemployment rate by 2.19 percentage points compared to the same period last year. This reflects positive developments in the labor market and an improved economic situation in Montenegro.
In the first half of the year, there were 8,570 new claims of unemployment, a 21.4% decrease compared to the previous year.
Despite these improvements, challenges remain, particularly with long-term unemployment, which still affects a significant portion of the jobless population. Regional disparities persist, with the highest unemployment in the Podgorica Regional Unit (PJ), which includes Podgorica, Danilovgrad, Zeta, Tuzi, and Cetinje; the Rožaje PJ, covering Rožaje and Petnjica; and the Bijelo Polje PJ, which includes Bijelo Polje, Mojkovac and Kolašin. Conversely, the lowest unemployment rates were observed in the Herceg Novi PJ, covering Herceg Novi, Kotor, and Tivat.
The report also noted that employers reported 14,100 job vacancies, an 18.83% decline from the previous year. The highest number of vacancies were in the accommodation and food services, education, and trade sectors.
In the first half of the year, the Employment Agency helped place 6,530 individuals into jobs from the unemployment registry, with about half in seasonal roles. This underscores the need for further support measures and initiatives to boost employment.
Foreign labor continues to play a significant role in Montenegro’s job market, especially in accommodation and food services, construction, and other service industries. The Agency issued 21,000 permits for temporary residence and work to foreigners, primarily from Turkey, Russia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania.
During the first half of the year, the Agency implemented five active employment policy programs with a total budget of EUR 2.6 million, which facilitated the employment of 1,280 individuals.
“The Agency will persist in its efforts to implement programs that support the unemployed and further reduce unemployment rates,” the report concluded.
