YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

This research paper sublimes the main empirical findings from the research study about the Macedonian Youth Unemployment, conducted in 2016 by the authors of this paper and financed by Friedrich Ebert Foundation. For the needs of the particular research a combined methodological approach was used, i.e. quantitative and qualitative analyzes were applied. For the quantitative analysis the data was collected by face-to-face questionnaire on a sample (N=1009) consisted of young unemployed people in the country (aged between 15 and 29), while for the qualitative analysis the data was collected by two focus groups held with representatives of the NGO sector, business sector and Agencies for employment and/or recruitment. The main objective of this research paper is to investigate the key factors, which make the process of finding a job or even starting an own business difficult for the young people in Republic of Macedonia, especially when we know that the Macedonian youth unemployment rate is very high (50%) almost double than the general unemployment rate (23,7%). The results can be considered as original and novelty also because for the first time the personal characteristics of the Macedonian unemployed young people as self-confidence, self-efficacy and work locus of control have been measured. We believe that the results might provide valuable information to the government and the relevant institutions for further policy creation and/or implementation. It is hoped that the study also contributes to better understanding of the nature of the problem regarding the youth unemployment from a scientific perspective.