The unemployment rate fell compared to the previous quarter in several economies, and in most of them it was the same or lower than in the same period a year before. Average employment growth slowed to 0.9%1 y-o-y in the Western Balkans in the second quarter of 2023, while labour force participation increased in some economies, most notably in Albania where it climbed to a record-high 75.8%. Overall, unemployment rates in the region remained high compared with the EU, ranging from 9.6% in Serbia to 13.5% in Montenegro.

European Economy Technical Papers are reports and data compiled by the staff of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs.

Download: EN