Working in Albania

After the downfall of the communist rule in March 1992, Albania began to experience significant changes that helped its economy to recover gradually. Though there is still no huge international community in this country, expats still decide to go here due to the growing number of job opportunities. 

The Republic of Albania was known to be an isolated country during the communist regimen but today, it now possesses an upper-middle income economy that’s primarily built on the service, industrial and agricultural sectors. Though this nation’s policies for an open-market economy caught the attention of foreign investors, the unemployment rate still remains high at 14.5%. Albania is still considered as one of the poorest countries in Europe and its declined application to join the EU in 2014 due to failure to meet certain criteria is a sign that it still needs to undergo major economic and legal reforms. 

Albania’s Job Market 

Albania’s labour force accounts for about 65.70% of the total population, most of which are employed in the agriculture, industry and services sector. The labour market of Albania has experienced dramatic transitions over the last few years. Factors such as urbanization and emigration contributed to the structural shift from agricultural sector to industry and services sector. Despite this transformation, agriculture still remains to be the biggest and most valuable sectors in Albania’s economy. Agriculture is the main source of employment and income in Albania, and this holds true especially in the remote areas of the country. It accounts for 18.9% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), employing about 47.8% of Albania’s population. 

Foreign nationals who are looking to work in Albania may find it quite difficult to land a decent job in the country. English-teaching may be a possible employment opportunity, but a foreign national still needs to learn sufficient Albanian to be able to communicate with locals as most people cannot speak or understand English. 

Average Salary and Work Hours 

Currently, the monthly minimum wage in Albania is ALL 22,000 or USD 175 while the average monthly salary is ALL 66,102 or USD 530. Like with most countries abroad, salaries vary depending on the expatriate’s job, location and qualifications. Below are some of the job descriptions in Albania along with their current average monthly wages: 

Just like any other European country, the general working hours in Albania is eight hours a day, or 40 hours a week, Mondays to Fridays. Most offices operate from 8AM until 5PM, while shops open at 8AM and close about 7PM. Workers are entitled to at least 11 public holidays in a year. 

The Albanian Work Culture 

Generally speaking, the Albanians take pride in how they dress and look like especially when they are at work. Men are best to wear suits and ties in dark colours while women are advised to wear dress suits. The locals of this country are also quite particular when it comes to the cleanliness of the footwear so expats should ensure that their shoes are always polished and free from mud or dirt because the Albanian’s pay close attention to it. 

Strict punctuality is not much of an issue in Albania and most business meeting start a bit late. However, expats should refrain from following this habit of their local colleagues since it might create a wrong impression. It is still best to arrive on time. The handshake with direct eye contact is the most common greeting in Albania. When introducing yourself, start with the person with the highest position because they are the ones that are always greeted first. 

Income Tax in Albania 

Under the Albanian Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Law, all residents are liable to pay taxes on their worldwide income at a flat rate of 10%. The tax period in Albania starts on the 1st of January and ends on 31st of December of each calendar year. Foreign nationals working in Albania can refer to the double tax treaties of Albania with other countries.