Employment Agency of the Republic of Macedonia (role, state of affairs, reforms, and implementation of active employment programs) Skopje, April 2015

Features of the labor market in the Republic of Macedonia:  Low activity rate  High unemployment rate (especially among young people)  Relatively law employment rate  Long-term unemployment  Existence of informal employments (“grey economy”)  Poor mobility and flexibility of the labor market  Low qualification structure of the unemployed, lack of work experience and skills  Disparity between the supply and demand on the labor market

 Program of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia а  National Employment Strategy  National Employment Action Plan  Youth Employment Action Plan  Annual operational plan for services on the labor market and active employment programs and measures  Several years’ operational program for human resources development Strategic documents

State Statistical Office (IV quarter 2014)  41.5 % – employment rate  27.6 % – unemployment rate Employment Agency Recorded unemployed – (March 2015) 24.7% - young people (15-29 years old) 47.6% - long-term unemployed (more than 1 year) 40.2% - having no or elementary education Other unemployed seeking jobs – (March 2015) State of affairs on the labor market in the Republic of Macedonia

Goals  Development of the Employment Agency’s services aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the work force and meeting the labor market demands  Development of the human potentials and administrative capacity of the Employment Agency (EA) for creation and provision of new services to the labor market  Playing a significant role by EA on the labor market by establishing partner relationships with the other stakeholders in the development and implementation of the employment policy.

Tasks Provision of efficient, effective and timely services for the unemployed and the employers Constant development and implementation of active employment programs and measures Support in the creation of new jobs Support for employment of vulnerable categories of unemployed Investments in human resources by improved education and vocational trainings

 Employment intermediation  Career counseling / professional orientation  Activities in working clubs  Individual employment plans  Motivational trainings  Services via Internet  Employment fairs  Issuance of work permits for employment of foreigners Services  Quality barometer – Secret client – 2nd position in 2014

 Dispersed offices  Job vacancies traffic light  Mobile application PRV.MK  Notification sent by SMS  Television promotion – Labor exchange  Activities aimed at improvement of the state of affairs of the labor market

Active employment programs and measures  There are 2 types of employment programs and measures: 1.Leading directly to employment (self-employment, subsidies, trainings for known employers accompanied by subsidized employment…) 2.Increasing employability (trainings in general skills, trainings in professions in short supply, internship…)  Special funds for employment and work of people with disabilities ~ 300 individuals annually  Crediting 1.Self-employment and crediting project 2.Self-employment project accompanied by crediting young people at the age of up to 29 3.Project for crediting legal entities for creation of new jobs 4.Project for crediting legal entities and creation of new jobs for young people at the age of up to 29  Youth Employment Action Plan

IPA Project: “Support for employment of young people, long-term unemployed and women” II Direct Grant 1.Practical trainings for the unemployed 1.1. Internship as support for employment of young people at the age of up to Trainings for known employers 2.Trainings in general skills 3.Training in skills demanded on the labor market  Coverage: 4720 individuals

 CARDS project entitled “Technical Assistance for Supporting the Employment Policy” - New model of services  IPA project entitled “Further modernization of the Employment Agency” - Procedure simplification and rationalization - Provision of services to unemployed individuals and to employers - Internal communication and knowledge management - Planning, monitoring and reporting - Human resources development - Methodological guide for the operation of the employment centers Strengthening the capacities of the Employment Agency - Previous projects

 IPA Project entitled “Strengthening the capacities for efficient implementation of the EU legislation in the field of free movement of workers”  IPA project entitled “Support for the Employment Agency in the Implementation of Active Measures and Services on the Labor Market” Strengthening the capacities of the Employment Agency - Ongoing projects

Cooperation with other institutions in the Republic of Macedonia  Ministry of Labor and Social Policy  Health Insurance Fund  Central Registry of the Republic of Macedonia  Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of the Republic of Macedonia  State Statistical Office  State Labor Inspectorate

Cooperation with the private employment agencies е -Changes in the regulations -Mutual exchange of information on job vacancies and referral of the unemployed for the purposes of employment -Cooperation agreements

International cooperation  WAPES – World Association of Public Employment Services  CPESSEC – Center of Public Employment Services in Southeastern Europe Countries  Bilateral cooperation with the employment services in Montenegro, Turkey, Albania, Hungary

Thank you for the attention! Employment Agency of the Republic of Macedonia