Farming employs many in Albania, with room to grow formally

One in three Albanians works in agriculture, yet the sector’s share of the economy lags behind, says the World Bank.

Around 30% of Albania’s workforce is employed in agriculture, but its contribution to GDP remains far smaller, the World Bank said on Sunday, calling for urgent steps to formalize the sector.

Senior economist Angela Montfuko told state TV that this imbalance reflects deep structural informality that must be addressed to boost productivity and support EU accession goals.

“Agriculture must be brought into the formal economy,” Montfuko said, urging streamlined regulation and tax procedures to help farmers comply without excessive burdens.

While post-1990 pension schemes helped cover a broad swath of rural workers, large parts of the sector still operate off the books. That, experts warn, threatens fiscal sustainability and distorts economic data ahead of accession talks.