This year, the difficulties in finding jobs for recent graduates have increased. INSTAT data shows that the difficulties in employing young people with higher education have increased significantly in 2025.

INSTAT data regarding the unemployment of young people with higher education show that the unemployment rate increased.

In 2024, this group had the lowest unemployment rate, 18.6%, but in 2025 it increased to 22.9%, surpassing even those with primary and secondary education.

This increase suggests a significant deterioration in employment opportunities for young university graduates, as a result of an oversupply of degrees in some fields, a mismatch with labor market needs, or a lack of effective professional integration programs.

Many companies that hire young people with degrees are now using Artificial Intelligence instead of recruiting employees.

Drini Zusi, a shareholder in the INCA company in Lezha, which operates in the processing industry, said that Artificial Intelligence and investments in mechanics and technology in recent years have reduced the dependence on new employee recruitments.

Mr. Zusi said that through ChatGPT and Midjourney in the field of marketing, content is created, and there is no longer a need for a manager in this field.

Previously, the company paid an external agency or consultant for the marketing concept or content, but with premium versions of ChatGPT, these products are produced in-house. For young people with 8-9 years of education, the unemployment rate has increased from 19.8% in 2024 to 22.1% in 2025.

INSTAT data shows that people with basic education had fewer employment opportunities compared to a year ago.

Such growth is reflecting the weakening of sectors that typically employ less educated labor.

Meanwhile, for young people with secondary education, unemployment has decreased significantly from 28.5% to 22.1%. This is a positive change, which places this group at the same unemployment level as those with basic education.

The strong decrease in unemployment for this category indicates that individuals with secondary education have benefited from an improvement in the labor market, perhaps as a result of an increase in demand for workers with technical or vocational training.

Youth labor market data show an overall decrease in unemployment, but with different trends by education level.

While those with secondary education have benefited more from the improvement in the labor market, those with higher education face new challenges that require special attention from public policy and the higher education system.

Unemployment among young people with diplomas is a bad signal for the country, as experience has shown that many of them, instead of trying to build a life in their country, choose to emigrate.

The departure of young people has intensified even more after the pandemic, and this is alarming at a time when their numbers are rapidly decreasing.

The younger age groups of our population are shrinking at record rates, more than anywhere else in Europe.

From 2011 to 2023, the 0-29 age group has reduced by 44% according to census data. The average age in the European Union in January 2025 was 44.7 years old, while in Albania, according to INSAT data, the average age of the population was 44.3 years old. In 2015, the average age in Albania was 27.2 years old.