From Greece to Ireland, to Arab countries, Albanians working abroad earned 663 million euros in 2024

2026-01-07 07:09:00, Ekonomi CNA

From Greece to Ireland, to Arab countries, Albanians working abroad earned 663

Finding a job abroad, even temporarily, has become a sustainable trend in recent years and this is reflected in the income they are generating from seasonal employment.

Proximity to countries like Italy and Greece, as well as the opportunity to work online, have expanded the geography of countries from which Albanians generate income.

Eurostat, in its data system, in addition to inflows from emigrants, also publishes income from transfers from seasonal work for Albanian citizens for 2024.

Of the approximately 2.1 billion euros sent to Albania during 2024 from personal transfers and employee compensation, according to data published by Eurostat, personal transfers accounted for 31.6% of the total, or 663 million euros.

This is the amount earned by those working abroad and transferred to Albania, at least officially. (Employees' compensation includes wages and salaries that residents of a country earn while working temporarily abroad, e.g. seasonal work, before taxes and contributions are deducted.)

Immigrants and those working temporarily abroad sent 2.1 billion euros to Albania in 2024

Income from work abroad has been increasing steadily in recent years, reflecting the increase in emigration, even temporary. In 2022, according to Eurostat, personal transfers were 455 million euros, in 2023 they reached 629 million euros, with an increase of 38%. In 2024, the growth slowed to 5.1%, reaching 663 million euros.

Greece holds the first place. The neighboring country hosts hundreds of Albanians, especially in the summer and autumn, who go to work in agriculture. Personal transfers from seasonal work from Greece were 156 million euros in 2024.

In second place is Italy, also a favorite destination for immigrants due to its geographical proximity and employment opportunities. Transfers from Italy were 126 million euros in 2024, according to Eurostat.

In third place is Germany, which in recent years has become a favorite destination for many professionals. Transfers from Germany were 69 million euros in 2024.

The United Kingdom is the next favorite destination for seasonal workers, who generated around 65 million euros in 2024.

Following it are Switzerland with 27 million euros, and Turkey with 20 million euros.

Ireland is also a favorite destination, with 19.7 million euros in transfers.

France, although the leading country for asylum requests, is eighth for transfers of seasonal workers.

Other destinations where income from temporary work is secured are Austria (16.9 million euros), the United States (14.2 million euros), Poland (13.5 million euros), and the Netherlands (11.5 million euros).

The geography of Albanians temporarily working abroad has reached the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, where transfers reached 2.3 million euros in 2024.

In seasonal and temporary work abroad, Albanian citizens are traditionally engaged in sectors that require intensive and flexible labor. The majority work in agriculture, especially in the collection of fruits, vegetables and olives, in greenhouses and in the primary processing of agricultural products. This profile remains dominant, especially in neighboring countries and in some Western European markets.

Another important sector is tourism and services, where Albanians are employed seasonally in hotels, restaurants and accommodation facilities during the summer months. Typical jobs include restaurant service, kitchen help, cleaning, maintenance and support services.

Construction continues to be an important area of ??seasonal and temporary employment, with engagements in physical works, building completions, reconstructions and infrastructure projects. In some countries, Albanians are also engaged in the manufacturing and logistics industries, mainly in packaging lines, warehouses and food processing.

Recently, there has been a gradual increase in the involvement of Albanians in IT-related services, mainly in flexible forms or short-term contracts. These include software development, application testing, technical support, digital services and other IT jobs offered remotely for foreign companies. Although this segment is still smaller compared to traditional seasonal jobs, it is expanding rapidly, driven by the skills of young Albanians, remote work and the growing demand for digital services./ Monitor