Recent data from Albania’s Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) reveals a slight decline in self-employment in the country during the final quarter of 2024. According to the report, self-employed individuals made up 29.9% of the total employed population aged 15 and over, marking a 0.9 percentage point decrease compared to the same period in 2023.
Self-employment continues to be a male-dominated domain, with 37.5% of employed men categorized as self-employed, compared to only 20.4% of women. This gender disparity highlights persistent structural gaps in Albania's labor market.
Among women, the most active age group in self-employment is 55–64 years old. However, the majority of these women have limited educational backgrounds — only 6.8% hold a university degree, even though 27% are self-employed. Younger women involved in self-employment also tend to have only 8- or 9-year basic education or, at most, a secondary education, revealing a disconnect between educational attainment and entrepreneurial participation.
In contrast, the picture for men is somewhat more balanced. The 55–64 age group remains highly active in self-employment (46.9%), and 23.4% of them have completed higher education — a figure notably higher than that of women in the same age bracket. Younger men are also more likely to engage in self-employment than their female peers, making this form of income generation more prevalent among males.
Nevertheless, low educational levels dominate among self-employed men as well. This trend reinforces the notion that self-employment in Albania is often seen as an alternative for those excluded from the formal job market or who have not pursued higher education.
The data paints a nuanced picture: while self-employment offers flexibility and income opportunities, it is largely driven by necessity rather than choice, especially for individuals with lower educational backgrounds.
Would you like a visual infographic or chart summarizing these key statistics?