The working age population of 15-64 years has been significantly reduced in the period between the two censuses 2011-2023 according to INSTAT data.

Preliminary data from the results of the 2023 census show that the working age population was 1,555,080 people, from 1,903,987 with a decrease of 18.3% compared to the 2011 census data.

The largest decline in the working-age population was seen in the 15 to 19-year-old age group, which shrank by 46.8%, and the 20-24-year-old age group, which was reduced by 41%.

The age groups with a strong decline in the working age population were 25-29 years old with about 25%, 40-44 years old with 25.6%, and 45-49 years old with 25.4%.

In contrast, the working-age population on the verge of retirement 60-64 years old has increased by 48.8% and the age group 45-59 years old, increased by 9.6%

As can be seen, the working-age population in Albania has not only been significantly reduced over a decade but has deteriorated in structure, as there is an increase in people on the verge of retirement and a significant decrease in young age groups.

Businesses in all sectors in recent years have considered the lack of employees a serious problem, for the solution of which they have neither experience nor means.

The Albanian economy has never faced this phenomenon before. This is the first decade that the economy and businesses have had to operate with the greatest unknown, the lack of employees.

In 2011, the working-age population (15-64 years) accounted for 68% of the total population, and in 2023, it accounted for 64% of it. The reduction of the working-age population will significantly change the indicators of employment.

At the end of 2023, 1,243,085 people aged 15-64 were officially employed, accounting for 80% of the working-age population. The transition to an older population is also seen in dependency ratios. The youth dependency ratio decreased to 24.0% from 30.4% estimated in the 2011 Census, and the elderly dependency ratio increased to 30.4% from 16.7% in 2011.