Albania sees surge in Filipino workers amid labour gaps

TIRANA, Aug 22 (TemA) — Albania is drawing a record number of foreign workers, with Filipinos now topping the list of residency requests, official data show.

By the end of July, 10,256 foreigners had applied for residence permits, including 1,351 Filipinos. Italians followed with 1,326 applications, then Indians and Egyptians. Most requests — over 7,000 — were for work permits, covering roles from babysitting and domestic care to beauty salons and cleaning services.

The total already nears last year’s 13,176 applications, signalling a sharp rise. While Italians led in 2024, this year Filipinos, Indians and Egyptians dominate, as Albanian companies turn to foreign staff to offset labour shortages and fill specialised posts. Applications also cover study, family reunification and other purposes.