Albanian businesses are valuing wages as a means to keep the workforce, which has become a major problem for the smooth running of their activity.

According to the Balkan Barometer 2024 survey conducted by the Regional Cooperation Council, 71% of Albanian enterprises have stated that they plan to increase salaries for employees in the next 12 months, which means the period between April 2024 and April 2025.

As can be seen from the table below, 15% of Albanian businesses were sure of salary increases, this indicator in Bosnia was 20%, in Kosovo and North Macedonia 19% each, while in Montenegro, 5% and in Serbia 6%.

A larger percentage of Albanian businesses, about 56%, claimed that they would most likely apply wage increases to employees between April 2024 and April 2025. This was the highest percentage in the region, followed by Kosovo and Bosnia.

The results of the 2024 survey show that businesses operating in the economies of the Western Balkans view labor availability as the most prevalent barrier to doing business.

The second set of barriers are customs, tax rates and trade regulations, political or social instability, access to finance, weak demand, the informal economy, and unfair competition.

Discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, age, and the like has been identified as the smallest obstacle in all Western Balkan economies, as it was last year.

The most important factors for the development of business relations with the economies of the Western Balkans are prices (88%), taxes (87%) and labor force (86%).

This underlines the importance of curbing inflationary pressures and a favorable tax system; thus reducing the financial burden on businesses, allowing them to invest more in growth and innovation.

Additionally, the Barometer highlights the critical need for a skilled and affordable workforce to support business operations and growth across the region. Transportation costs and the removal of trade barriers also remain high concerns.