Main determinants of youth labour market in selected SEE countries and the case of Macedonia

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to elabourate the youth on the labour market in selected South-East European countries with special emphaisis on Macedonia and particular reference to their present state. The analysis of Macedonian youth employment is accomplished with their educational and economic structure. The situation of the global youth employment remains unstable. Problems of long job progression and a lack of stable employment for youth exist almost all around the world. As a part of the labour force, young people can significantly contribute for increasing the economic development of the country with their knowledge and abilities. Methods of analyses and synthesis, deduction and induction, as well as descriptive statistics and comparison methods will be implemented in this research. The situation of young people on the labour market in Macedonia is illustrated by paralleling with labour market indicators at national level, as well as with South-East European countries. Recent researches show that many youth in the SEE region are not active in the labour market and Macedonian youngsters aged between 15 and 24 years old are more likely to be unemployed compared to the other age groups. Labour market in Macedonia is characterized by a relatively low activity of youth. The youth activity rate in Macedonia is lower than the European Union and the average activity rate in Western Balkan countries.