The share of Albania’s working-age population that is neither employed nor actively looking for a job showed significant differences between regions in 2025, highlighting the impact of migration, demographic decline, and unequal employment opportunities across the country.
The inactivity rate measures the percentage of people of working age who are outside the labor market, meaning they are not working and are not actively searching for employment. This category includes students, early retirees, people caring for family members, individuals with health problems, and those who have stopped looking for work due to limited opportunities.
According to regional data, the highest levels of labor market inactivity were recorded in Gjirokastër, Vlorë, Shkodër, and Lezhë, while Kukës and Berat registered the lowest rates, with 31.7% and 31.8%, respectively.
Kukës, one of Albania’s poorest regions, recorded a significant increase in inactivity, a trend linked by analysts to high levels of emigration, population aging, and limited employment opportunities. These factors often discourage residents from actively seeking jobs, reducing participation in the labor market.
Gjirokastër experienced a similar trend, with inactivity increasing by 9.1 percentage points to reach 41.1%, the second-highest level in the country. The region has been strongly affected by population aging and migration, which have reduced the number of people participating in economic activity.
Meanwhile, Vlorë remained the region with the highest inactivity rate in Albania, reaching 40.8%. The figure reflects demographic challenges, seasonal employment patterns linked to tourism, and the fact that a significant portion of the population is not active in the labor market throughout the entire year.
In Shkodër, the inactivity rate increased slightly to 40%, up by 1.1 percentage points compared with the previous year. More moderate increases were recorded in Elbasan, where inactivity rose by 2.3 percentage points, Dibër by 1.4 percentage points, and Durrës by 0.3 percentage points.
However, some regions recorded improvements. Lezhë registered the largest decline in inactivity, falling by 3.7 percentage points, from 42.1% to 38.4%. The decrease is associated with stronger employment opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism, as well as an increase in the number of people returning to active job searches.
Tirana also recorded a notable improvement, with inactivity decreasing by 2 percentage points to 37.5%. As Albania’s largest economic center, the capital continues to benefit from job creation in services, technology, construction, and public administration, attracting more people into the workforce.
Berat recorded a decline of 2.2 percentage points, while smaller reductions were observed in Fier (-0.7 percentage points), Korçë (-0.5 percentage points), and Vlorë (-0.1 percentage points).
The regional differences in labor inactivity reflect broader demographic and economic trends in Albania. Areas facing population decline and high emigration continue to struggle with lower labor force participation, while regions with stronger economic activity and employment opportunities are more successful in attracting people into the labor market.