Albanian businesses are recruiting foreign workers across various sectors to prepare for the summer season, as many Albanians continue to seek employment opportunities abroad.

Joyce Dorenab, a 26-year-old from Uganda, worked as an electrician in her home country, but her salary was not enough to cover basic living expenses. She found a solution in Albania.

“I am happy with my job here. I was looking for new opportunities and decided to leave my country. In Uganda, I was not paid well. Here, I feel better and plan to stay for another two to three years,” says Joyce.

Foreign workers are being recruited with different qualifications depending on business needs.

SPA Sector in High Demand for Migrant Workers

One of the sectors with the highest demand for foreign workers is SPA therapy, where in the past five years, most employees have been migrant women.

“I am from Bali, Indonesia. After the pandemic, everything in my country was shut down. Albania needed therapists, so I applied. I have been working here since 2022. Now I am finishing my contract and thinking about returning to my country, but I am still unsure about my next steps,” says Eka Suciantari.

Experts: Albanian Companies Must Improve Working Conditions

Experts argue that businesses must improve working conditions to retain Albanian employees. Otherwise, this labor exchange phenomenon will become increasingly common.

“The trend of employee exchanges will continue to grow. Countries like Germany and Spain offer higher wages, and Albania is vulnerable to this competition,” says employment expert Erion Muça.

Growing Number of Foreign Workers in Albania

In 2024, over 13,000 foreign workers were registered to work in Albania, a number that continues to increase each year.