Temporary contract work in the country, on the verge of extinction

2026-04-04 08:15:12, Aktualitet CNA

Businesses and employees in our country are no longer preferring temporary employment contracts, seeking more security.

According to the latest official data from INSTAT on the percentage of employees with temporary contracts to the total number of salaried employees, a drastic decline in this indicator is observed, which has dropped from double-digit levels in the period 2013-2017 to historical low levels at the end of 2025.

In 2014, over 15% of employees had short-term contracts, while at the end of 2025 this category accounted for only 4.1% of total employees, which constitutes the lowest level recorded in official violence.

The ongoing labor crisis has forced employers to offer more secure conditions and long-term contracts to retain staff, as high mobility and emigration have created shortages in the market, especially after the pandemic.

On the other hand, the formalization of the economy and the increasing pressure of labor inspections have caused many relationships that were once temporary or undeclared to turn into standard work positions.

Also, the change in the structure of the economy towards higher added services requires a more qualified and stable workforce, which is usually required by permanent contracts.

In the European Union, the average employment rate with temporary contracts usually fluctuates around 10-12%, with countries like Spain or the Netherlands historically having had much higher levels than Albania, often over 20%.

The main difference lies in the nature of these contracts, as in the EU they are often used as a bridge for young people into the labor market or for legally regulated flexibility.

Labor market experts say this indicator should be read as a reaction to the labor supply crisis. Unlike developed countries, where employees may accept temporary contracts for flexibility, in Albania employers are using regular long-term contracts as the main tool to prevent employees from emigrating or moving to other sectors.

While in the EU, the vast majority of the workforce is involved in wage employment, in our country a large part of the active population does not appear at all in contract statistics as they work on family agricultural farms, as self-employed without a contract. /Monitor