Albania: Investors hampered by lack of qualified workers
Albania has become increasingly attractive for foreign investors in recent years. But heavy emigration over the past decade means that companies – both local and foreign – are now struggling to find qualified workers. German manager Stephanie Sieg thinks that government and business should work together to make Albania more attractive for potential employees.
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00:00 Stephanie Sieg moved to Albania seven years ago.
00:04 She's the general manager of Tirana Business Park,
00:07 the Lindeners Group biggest real estate investment in Albania.
00:11 She also runs the MK Hotel, which is situated in the business park
00:16 close to Albanians National Airport. But even though business is blooming for the
00:21 German group,
00:22 Sieg is struggling to hire qualified staff. We are looking since two years for
00:26 mechanical engineer,
00:28 an experienced one, not highly professional. We don't look for 10 years,
00:33 but three, five years experience. I mean mechanical engineers are anyhow in
00:37 Albania
00:38 a lack.
00:41 But when my people even went to universities to find someone there,
00:47 they say we are learning German and we are leaving to Germany.
00:50 For me as a German I do understand, but being a German
00:54 company present in Albania, I have to do also something against it.
00:58 So what we do, we are paying already higher salaries than the market is doing,
01:02 we are giving trainings, we are offering
01:04 bonus systems, we are offering additional packages and still
01:08 I'm not able to find a mechanical engineer.
01:12 The hospitality sector also faces staff shortages in almost all areas.
01:18 Since 2015 Albanians have been migrating to the EU,
01:23 especially Germany, in large numbers. The consequences
01:27 are visible everywhere. Even there
01:31 we are struggling. So waiters are leaving the country or now they are going to the
01:36 south, you know.
01:37 Kitchen is also
01:40 and even we talk about housekeeping, cleaning ladies, you know.
01:45 When I came here it was easy to find a cleaning lady, nowadays you don't find
01:49 even more cleaning ladies.
01:50 The German Association of Industry and Trade in Albania
01:55 conducts annual surveys of German businesses in the country.
01:58 This year more than 40 participating companies
02:03 complained about the shortage of workers.
02:06 We have been closed for some time since 2019
02:11 and this phenomenon has started and is still more visible
02:16 for companies, not only in Germany, but also for local companies
02:20 that are present in the Albanian market.
02:22 The companies have no choice but to turn to workers from abroad.
02:26 About 700,000 people
02:29 are estimated to have left the country over the last decade.
02:33 The increase of the number of workers from abroad
02:38 to meet the needs of the labour market in Albania
02:41 is, I think, a self-imposed solution,
02:46 but here, as in Albania, there is a competition
02:50 with other countries of the region, but also in Europe.
02:54 It is not at the level, let's say,
02:57 necessary to increase the number of workers from third countries
03:01 to meet their own needs.
03:03 However, this process has started.
03:05 My question is, is this a sustainable solution?
03:09 Are these people from other countries like Bangladesh, Thailand, India,
03:15 are they really willing to stay in Albania
03:18 or is it just a jump to Europe?
03:20 Angela Coney lived in the European Union for over three years.
03:26 She worked in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Switzerland
03:29 before deciding to return home.
03:32 I don't think I will do anything good.
03:37 I am sure that all the children who are thinking about leaving the country
03:41 can find a way to make a career,
03:43 maybe to make money, etc.
03:45 I saw that I had money, I could make money, a career, etc.
03:49 OK, I went to a peak, and then I was able to take the decision,
03:53 I was able to take the decision to stay in my country,
03:55 to work for my own money, to work for my own money,
03:59 and to support my family.
04:01 Reversing the brain drain is a complex task, says Zig.
04:05 She thinks that the government and business sector have to work together
04:10 to make life in Albania more attractive to potential employees.
04:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]