More retirees work as Albania loses younger workers

Albania lost more than 32,000 workers of active working age in the first quarter of 2026, while employment among pension-age people rose sharply.

INSTAT data show employment among 15 to 29-year-olds fell by about 14,400 from a year earlier.

The main working-age group, 30 to 64, also lost more than 18,000 workers.

At the same time, the number of people over 64 still in work rose to 140,713, up by about 17,700.

Pension-age workers now make up 12.2% of total employment, compared with 10.5% a year earlier.

The figures point to a labour market under pressure from emigration, population ageing and worker shortages.