Resources for employers in Albania
Resources for employers in Albania
We use “refugees” as a term encompassing forcibly displaced people with different legal statuses, such as refugees, subsidiary protection holders, temporary protection holders, asylum seekers and other persons in need of international protection.
In cases where differentiating information relating to each status is essential (i.e. regarding the right to work), this is clearly indicated.
In recent years, Albania has demonstrated a strong commitment to welcoming refugees from different backgrounds and facilitating their entry and stay in the country, including those fleeing the war in Ukraine or evacuees from Afghanistan. To support forcibly displaced people's successful integration into Albanian society, it is important to invest in their inclusion in the labour market as a key pillar.
Given that Albania’s population is expected to decrease due to continuing emigration, an ageing population, and low natality, the country needs to find ways to address the brain drain and the net negative migration flows. Newcomers such as refugees and asylum-seekers can help tackle labour shortages and skills gaps, especially in agriculture, construction and manufacturing sectors. This is why by hiring refugees, Albanian companies contribute to their self-sufficiency and economic empowerment. They stand to gain a lot in enhanced recruitment, improved diversity, a more substantial company brand, and increased productivity.
Why hire refugees in Albania?
In recent years, Albania has demonstrated a strong commitment to welcoming refugees from different backgrounds and facilitating their entry and stay in the country, including those fleeing the war in Ukraine or evacuees from Afghanistan. To support forcibly displaced people's successful integration into Albanian society, it is important to invest in their inclusion in the labour market as a key pillar.
Given that Albania’s population is expected to decrease due to continuing emigration, an ageing population, and low natality, the country needs to find ways to address the brain drain and the net negative migration flows. Newcomers such as refugees and asylum-seekers can help tackle labour shortages and skills gaps, especially in agriculture, construction and manufacturing sectors. This is why by hiring refugees, Albanian companies contribute to their self-sufficiency and economic empowerment. They stand to gain a lot in enhanced recruitment, improved diversity, a more substantial company brand, and increased productivity.
One company located in Tirana, which produces transport packaging and bags for industrial valuable products, has hired more than 15 refugees during the past 8 years. As of 2024, two refugees are working for the company, one from Palestine and the other from Kosovo. To recruit refugee job seekers, the company has cooperated, since 2016, with the Refugee Migrant Services Albania (RMSA), which is a local implementing partner supported by UNHCR. The company has engaged managers to show increased care for refugees and to advise all local employees to cooperate, as much as possible, with these cases to keep them engaged with the Albanian language and work techniques. The company management has shared that refugees add value to the workforce, bringing a new spirit and new experiences, improving the quality of work and making the organization more diverse.
How many refugees and stateless people are there in Albania?
In 2024, there were 6,597 refugees in Albania. While more than 10,000 refugees from Ukraine entered Albania in 2022, many of them have left the country, and the number of Ukrainian refugees as of mid-2024 was 6,465.
Due to its geographic location in the Western Balkan route, the country has also become a prevalent transit point for mixed migrant flows going into the European Union, either towards Italy by sea or towards Western Europe through Montenegro, with 12,514 arrivals registered in Albania in 2022 and 2023. Small percentages of those travelling in mixed movements to the borders of Albania are referred to the asylum procedure: 1.4% in 2022 and 6.5% in 2023. Finally, the country welcomed over 1,800 evacuees from Afghanistan in the same year. It assists them with their resettlement process to the US, Canada, and Western Europe.
Visit the Refugee Data Finder to learn more
How many of them are working?
A survey by IOM in December 2022 among refugees from Ukraine revealed that 80% of the surveyed refugees were either employed or self-employed before fleeing Ukraine and arriving in Albania, with 40% still employed at the time of the interview. The most common professions among refugees from Ukraine were in the IT, health, and education sectors. In addition, the level of education among the surveyed refugees was very high, with 66% declaring that they had a Master's degree or PhD and another 23% with a Bachelor’s degree. 63% of those surveyed stated they planned to search for work in Albania, pointing to the health, services, education, and tourism sectors.
What are the main challenges?
Despite having the legal right to work in Albania, refugees face various challenges when navigating the job market. These challenges include learning the language, searching for jobs, preparing for interviews, developing skills, networking, and understanding financial matters. In addition, refugees have shared needs for language courses and assistance with documentation and legal consular services.
| Status | Who it applies to | Right to work? |
|
Asylum-seekers |
Individuals who have applied for asylum in Albania and are yet to receive a decision on their application. | Asylum seekers have the right to work in Albania no later than nine months after submitting their asylum applications. |
| Refugee | Individuals with a well-founded fear of being persecuted for race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. | Refugees can apply for employment authorization, and if no rejection decision is made within nine months, it is automatically granted. |
| Subsidiary protection | Individuals who do not qualify for refugee status but who are unable to return to their home country because it would mean they face capital punishment, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. | Holders of subsidiary protection can apply for employment authorization, and if no rejection decision is made within nine months, it is automatically granted. |
| Temporary protection | Individuals who are residents of Ukraine and who have applied for protection in Albania due to the ongoing war. | Individuals with temporary protection have the right to employment and professional training in Albania. |
Bear in mind:
The Albanian government made two key decisions in March 2022. First, it granted refugees from Ukraine the right to enter and stay in Albania for up to one year without a residence permit or protection under the temporary protection scheme for those requesting it. Most refugees from Ukraine who have arrived in Albania have so far opted to benefit from the right to enter and stay and have not asked for temporary protection.
How do I connect with refugee and stateless talent?
Employers interested in recruiting refugees can contact several organizations that work with forcibly displaced people and can make referrals to suitable candidates. In addition to Refugee and Migrant Services in Albania (RMSA), other organizations in Albania working on the socioeconomic inclusion of refugees include IOM Albania and Caritas Albania.
What can I do to support refugee employees?
Employers can focus on making their recruitment process more inclusive to support refugee candidates. An inclusive recruitment process can be achieved by publishing vacancies in different languages (including English, Ukrainian, or Russian) and lowering requirements for Albanian language proficiency wherever possible. In addition, companies can cooperate with NGOs to support refugee employees to attend language classes and to provide them with opportunities to practice the language. Furthermore, employers can support refugee hires with navigating bureaucratic processes and documentation requirements. Lastly, companies can work to build an inclusive company culture through teambuilding events, buddy and mentorship programs, and diversity training for all employees.
Useful resources
Subsidies
Employers should be registered in the National Employment and Skills platform and apply to be able to use available subsidies, such as 1) 1-year employment program with 4 months of wage funding, 2) an internship program with 6 months of funding, 3) a work-based training program with 4 months of funding, and others.
NGO support
The Refugee and Migrant Services in Albania (RMSA) is a local NGO that runs a job coaching program to empower refugees in their job search through coaching and guidance. RMSA connects refugees with possible employers for full-time positions and internships, many of which result in long-term employment.
“Skills for Employment” toolkit prepared by IKEA with best practices on how employers can open employment pathways for refugees
A report by the TENT partnership for refugees on "How Hiring Refugees Helps Brands: Europe (2023)".